TABLE TENNIS
Magnus Effect


The Magnus Effect is the physical phenomenon where an object's rotation affects its path through a fluid, in the case of Table Tennis, air.

It is a product of various phenomena including the Bernoulli Effect and the formation of boundary layers in the medium around moving objects.

When an object spins, it creates a kind of whirlpool of rotating air about itself.  The motion on one side will be in the same direction as the wind stream that the object is exposed to.  This is the side where velocity will be increased.  The motion on the other side will be in the opposite direction of the wind stream, and the velocity here will be decreased.

An experienced Table Tennis player can apply a wide array of spins on the ball.  In fact, Table Tennis rackets have outer layers made of rubber to give the racket maximum grip against the ball to encourage this spinning.

Demonstration of Backspin

Image taken from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis

Demonstration of Topspin

Image taken from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis

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