The key physical phenomenon that explains
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 6:48 am
Spin Changed Modern Tennis: How the Laws of Physics Make Sport Spectacular
At the latest Australian Open, spectators once again witnessed the amazing maneuvers of the tennis ball, which flies along curved trajectories and unexpectedly changes the height of the bounce. Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff and other tennis players once again demonstrated the mastery that turns the physics of spin into their main weapon on the court.
Svetlana Levchenko
News Author
Magnus effect: a schematic representation of air flow around a moving ball
Magnus effect: a schematic representation sms gateway chile of air flowing around a moving ball Source: Wikipedia
The secret of the tennis ball’s unusual motion lies in the art of spin control, which has made modern tennis even faster and more spectacular.
The key physical phenomenon that explains the ball’s trajectory is the Magnus effect, first described by German physicist Gustav Magnus in 1852. When a ball spins in flight, it creates a difference in air pressure around it, causing it to deviate from a straight trajectory. This is due to friction between the surface of the ball and the air, which causes the air flow to accelerate on one side and slow down on the other.
For example, a topspin shot involves the player moving the racket up the back of the ball, causing it to spin forward. This creates increased pressure on the top of the ball and decreased pressure on the bottom, causing the ball to drop quickly to the court. This effect allows players to hit powerful shots at high speeds without the ball going over the line.
At the latest Australian Open, spectators once again witnessed the amazing maneuvers of the tennis ball, which flies along curved trajectories and unexpectedly changes the height of the bounce. Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff and other tennis players once again demonstrated the mastery that turns the physics of spin into their main weapon on the court.
Svetlana Levchenko
News Author
Magnus effect: a schematic representation of air flow around a moving ball
Magnus effect: a schematic representation sms gateway chile of air flowing around a moving ball Source: Wikipedia
The secret of the tennis ball’s unusual motion lies in the art of spin control, which has made modern tennis even faster and more spectacular.
The key physical phenomenon that explains the ball’s trajectory is the Magnus effect, first described by German physicist Gustav Magnus in 1852. When a ball spins in flight, it creates a difference in air pressure around it, causing it to deviate from a straight trajectory. This is due to friction between the surface of the ball and the air, which causes the air flow to accelerate on one side and slow down on the other.
For example, a topspin shot involves the player moving the racket up the back of the ball, causing it to spin forward. This creates increased pressure on the top of the ball and decreased pressure on the bottom, causing the ball to drop quickly to the court. This effect allows players to hit powerful shots at high speeds without the ball going over the line.