What Causes a Soccer Ball to Stop? The Physics Behind the Game
It All Starts with Motion (And Eventually Ends With It)
So, you kick the ball across the field — strong, fast, perfect. And then… it slows down. Eventually, it just stops. What gives? The short answer: friction, resistance, and energy loss. But let’s not rush it — there’s more going on under the hood (or, well, under the cleats).
Whether you’re on a grass pitch or playing street soccer with your friends, the soccer ball never keeps moving forever. Physics always steps in.
The Main Culprit: Friction
Ground friction slows the roll
Friction is basically the force that resists motion between two surfaces. In this case, that’s the soccer ball and the ground. Even though it’s round and smooth, the ball still rubs against the grass, turf, dirt, or concrete. That rubbing creates resistance, which saps the ball’s energy little by little until it just... stops.
The rougher the surface, the faster it slows down.
Kicking on wet grass? Might slide longer.
Dry turf in July? That thing’s gonna lose momentum fast.
Air friction — it’s small, but real
Even air plays a role. As the ball travels through the air, air resistance (or drag) pushes against it. It's subtle, especially at low speeds, but it’s always there. The faster the ball, the stronger the drag.
That’s also why curved shots (like when you bend it like Beckham) lose steam faster — they’re spinning through layers of air that fight back.
Energy Transfer and Loss
No energy, no motion
When you kick a ball, you're transferring energy from your body into the ball — boom, kinetic energy. But every second it’s rolling, that energy is being drained. Friction pulls it out. The ground absorbs some. Even sound and slight vibrations steal a tiny bit.
Eventually, that energy drops to zero. And once kinetic energy is gone? The ball just sits there.
Collisions and bounces
Let’s say the ball hits a wall or another player. That changes everything. Collisions can absorb a chunk of the energy or redirect it. Depending on how hard and where it hits, it might stop immediately or bounce in another direction (with way less speed).
External Forces That Can Stop the Ball
The player’s foot (duh)
Obviously, one major reason a soccer ball stops is... someone stops it. A pass is intercepted. A goalie traps it. A defender clears it. These aren’t subtle — they're deliberate actions that instantly cut the ball’s movement.
Obstacles or slopes
A tiny bump on the field, a slope, even a gust of wind can slow things down. Ever played on a crooked pitch? It’s wild. Sometimes the ball “stops” early not because of energy loss — but because it hits something unexpected.
Does the Ball’s Design Matter?
Yes, actually
High-quality balls are made to reduce friction with the ground and the air. They're smoother, better balanced, and retain energy longer. Cheaper balls may wobble more, slow down faster, or bounce weirdly. The material, weight, and air pressure all affect how long the ball stays in motion.
And don’t forget: A slightly deflated ball? That’ll stop way quicker. No joke.
So, what causes a soccer ball to stop?
Friction, resistance, collisions, and energy loss — all wrapped in a neat little package called physics.
Next time you watch a match or go for a kick in the park, pay attention to how the ball slows down. Because behind every pass, goal, and tackle… the laws of motion are doing their quiet, sneaky work.
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Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.