| Subject: |
|
Re: SI.com - US Open to have Blue Courts this year |
| Name: |
|
Andrew |
| Date Posted: |
|
May 22, 05 - 8:34 AM |
| Message: |
|
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...spot/index.html
7. The 10 Spot received an interesting e-mail about Tuesday's contention that if U.S. Open officials were really concerned about making the ball show up more clearly against the background of the court, it would be simpler to change the color of the ball than the court. Rather, it struck us that the new blue courts are more about creating buzz than making the ball easier to pick up. Yet we received this response from Dr. Breese Quinn, an assistant professor of physics at Ole Miss: "Here's the answer: Because tennis balls are already the color that human eyes are most sensitive to -- yellow-green. Not coincidentally, this also happens to be the peak color emitted by the sun. It is also why yellowish sodium vapor bulbs are used in streetlights; you get more light reception in the eyes for the least money. Also why emergency vehicles in many towns now, and almost all airports, are yellow-green and not red." Other readers, meanwhile, pointed out that a move to blue balls would provide too inviting a target to smart alecks such as myself. |
|
Replies:
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
Forum
bravenet.com
