Question

Intuition might tell us that rough surfaces on clothing would inhibit the speed of an Olympic athlete. Why is this line of thinking not true in some cases? How can controlled roughness actually promote speed?

Answer 1

People might think that clothing with rough surfaces slows down movement because the rough parts trap air. That's not always the case. By controlling the amount of roughness, it’s possible to allow air to pass more easily over the fabric. The shape of a golf ball is based on this idea: the dimples on its surface make the air spin in small circles, like mini vortexes. These spinning circles of air act like ball bearings in a machine. The overall effect is that the ball can move more easily through the air, so it flies a greater distance. In the same way, the grooves on athletes' clothing also allow smoother movement through the air.

Step-by-step explanation:

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Answer 2

When it comes to clothing, roughness could promote proper aerodynamics and/or proper flow of air to and from the athlete’s body. Enough roughness could also lessen the air drag on the athlete’s body thereby reducing the amount of effort that he has to exert to gain the desired speed.