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whats-inside-a-baseball
Sure, baseball's origins date back to the early 19th century, but it's still the ultimate geek sport. Split-second decisions, weird physics and ever-evolving equipment permeate all facets of the game. There's a seemingly endless laundry list of questions that surround the sport: Does a curveball really curve? Why don't I hear the crack of the bat right when it happens? Do bats really have a "sweet spot"?
Of course, science can answer all of these questions and more, and San Francisco's Exploratorium museum has dedicated prime space on its main show floor for its Science of Baseball exhibit, which runs through Sept. 5 and features a dozen interactive installations that'll bring out the baseball geek in all fans.
Above:
What's Inside a Baseball?
Sun Tzu said that, in war, you must know your enemy. When a major league hitter steps in the batter's box, his enemy is the baseball, which is actually an incredibly precise and complex sphere. With a heart of cork that must weigh exactly half an ounce, each sanctioned baseball measures roughly 2.9 inches across, although that diameter can fluctuate on account of humidity and other environmental factors. Around the cork are two layers of rubber that weigh a combined seven-eighths of an ounce. Four different kinds of string, which would measure 1,107 feet if laid out in a line, encircle the outer rubber layers. Topping it off is a white cowhide cover kept on by rubber cement. Throw in 216 outer stitches made from 88 inches of red thread and you've got an official major league baseball.All Photos: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
