We discussed the chemistry of the famous trophy (gold, malachite) and conclude it is most likely empty inside...

 

 

A hollow victory perhaps?

well, you want the players to be able to lift it don't you?

 

i mean seeing as they tend to fall over and hurt themselves from the light breeze generated by someone running past them, even 5 kilos may be pushing it.

 

of course, it could have a lighter filler material inside it rather than being hollow.

of course, it could have a lighter filler material inside it rather than being hollow.

 

Indeed, but then no-one knows what that is.... another mystery!?

 

We aren't suggesting there is some great scandal or cover-up, just like to get people thinking about science... and perhaps some food for thought for all those people who always imagine it as a big soild lump...

 

Fifa certainly only ever mention that is it is solid gold with malachite at its base... All good fun!

Clearly, there is a secret magical football hidden inside, with the power to grant wishes or something.

The real World Cup is hidden in an undisclosed location. The trophy given to the winning team each world cup is indeed gold plated (read this in National Geographic magazine, June 2010 issue).

Well suppose you had a solid lump of gold the size of a large (2 L) soda bottle. The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm^3, so the gold soda bottle would weigh in at 38.6 kg or 85 pounds. Now certain types of statues may be thin without being hollow, but any thick parts are likely to be hollow so they can be thin. It's not necessarily a bad thing either. Which would you prefer, a small solid statue or a large hollow one, if they weighed the same?

This ended up on the BBC!!!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10301713.stm

 

Original video at

This ended up on the BBC!!!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10301713.stm

 

Original video at

 

awesomeness