The Magnus Effect
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Any soccer fan has seen
a player curve the ball around a defender and into the goal.
This is caused by the Magnus Effect. The Magnus Effect is a phenomena
which happens when there is a ball rotation in the air and
moving forward, like in a free kick or a throw. What happens
is the spinning of the ball creates a pressure differential on
opposite sides of the ball. The pressure differential causes
the ball to be pulled towards the low pressure area. This
force is called the magnus force or lift, the magnitude of the
force depends on the speed at which the ball is rotating.
The magnus force does
a number of things in soccer, if the ball is kicked with
backspin the magnus force is pointing upward which causes
the ball is glide and arc farther down-field. If the ball is
kicked with head-spin it causes the ball to arc downward
giving it a much shorter distance and a tighter arc. If the
ball has side-spin it will cause the ball to curl through
the air in the same direction of the spin.
http://www.comsol.com/blogs/magnus-effect-world-cup-match-ball/
http://www.soccermaniak.com/the-physics-of-soccer.html