Good Questions: Batteries, MPH, & Football's -Backs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Every Friday, Heather Brown takes a look at some of the burning questions that our viewers have sent. This week, we're looking at speedometers, football position names, and the mysterious missing battery size.
Knowing many parents will soon be putting millions of batteries into toys, we thought we'd answer Kim from Maple Grove: "Why are there no size "B" batteries?"
According to the folks at Battery Council International, there used to be size B batteries. For the most part, they were used in old portable radios. But, as the technology in the radios changed, the battery types changed right along with them.
"Since there was never another energy requirement for 'B' batteries, they weren't made again," Battery Council International's Mark Thornsby said.
Isaiah from Shakopee wants to know: "Why do speedometers go all the way up to 120 mph?"
Essentially, it comes down to aesthetics. If you divide the speedometer into thirds, you'll find most people drive in the middle third.
"Some cars can go that fast, but it's also about design," says Truecar.com VP of industry insights Eric Lyman. "The needle in the speedometer is usually 12 o'clock position, then it's in the 50-70 mph range (normal highway speed) to help with ergonomics and visibility of speed management for the driver."
Lindsay from Minneapolis: "Why are football players called quarterbacks, halfbacks and fullbacks?"
Football has its origins in rugby, which used the terms backs. When the sport was evolving in 19th century, quarter, half and full referred the distances the players were behind the offense. Quarterbacks were just behind the forwards, halfbacks were further out and
fullbacks behind them. Over time, American football has changed. These distances aren't entirely relevant to today's game, but the names stuck.
