# Cornstarch Soccer Ball **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornstarch-soccer-ball/406595 "2007-06-03T18:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornstarch-soccer-ball/406595/21 "2007-06-05T19:01:34Z")
As a bit of an aside there are a series of simple equations on the Mass-Spring-Damper model that will allow you to calculate the exact amount of damping-effect you need from your cornstarch ball to get the desired response from your system. Check out this [Wikipedia link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damping) for some high level info and Google “Mass Spring Damper” for an endless supply of examples. Basically, any moving system can be boiled down to a simple MSD equation, and there is a whole sub-field of engineering called Control Systems that deals with this kind of thing. It sounds like you already have the Springs in place on your device, and you have a known weight. Now you have to determine how much over-damping or under-damping you want the system to exhibit, and then fill/adjust your cornstarch ball to match the solution to that equation. Easier said than done probably… but at least you have the Math to back up your real-world system and you can analyse why and how things are happening the way the do. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornstarch-soccer-ball/406595/22 "2007-06-05T23:12:49Z")
You do realize that the cornstarch will settle then lump together without constant motion? :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornstarch-soccer-ball/406595.md?page=1)