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The World Cup has kicked off, and soccer enthusiasts have been watching 104 matches from the greatest players around the world. But how fast is the ball actually going? And how much force does it take for professional athletes to kick a soccer ball? Brown University School of Engineering professor Roberto Zenit explains the force, momentum and speed of the ball in a professional soccer game, and shares what makes soccer such a spectacular sport to watch. Tune in to the World Cup through July 19 to see the laws of physics at play at stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico. — #BrownCurious is a social media series that features Brown University’s community of experts answering the world’s most searched and discussed questions.

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