Magnus Effect
A simple and neat explanation of the physics behind footballs curving gracefully through the air.
Jonathan Sanderson
Duration: 1:45
Views: 6274
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Magnus EffectWe’ve all seen footballs kicked so they fly in a graceful curve (usually, in our case, away from the goal rather than heroically into the top corner). How does that work? Wendy Sadler explains, and shows you with a neat do-it-yourself-it’s-easy demonstration.
Really, do. Grab a couple of plastic cups, some tape, and some elastic bands. Fun!
You can find out more about Wendy and her company Science Made Simple at their website.
Wendy’s a professional, and it shows. We shot this film in about 20 minutes, after a training day with her science communication company. Rattling out a clear and concise explanation can be a real challenge, but here Wendy makes it look easy.
I didn’t quite know what I was going to shoot when we started, so for once I broke my own rules and held the camera by hand. However, I slapped a big wide-angle adaptor on the front, which gives the wonderful exaggerated perspectives you see, and things like ducking low to see the underside of the cups just made sense as we went along.
The other ‘rule’ I broke is that I relied on the camera’s built-in microphone. The room was quiet, and I was standing within a metre or so of Wendy, so the result is fine. A ‘proper’ microphone would have been a bit less sharp, but when there’s limited fiddling time, work with whatever you have!
Ive been searching through books and the internet looking for a simple, uncomplicated explanation of the Magnus Effect....and here it is! Thankyou.
DrewD, 20 Jul 2010
I am working on my FAA CFIG flight instructor's rating. What a great demonstration and explanation of the Magnus effect. Thank you.
Mario Gerhardt, 05 Jun 2010
Because the efect described by Bernoulli is too smale, you can only explane that the air filme on top is stable. The reason for the lifting efect es very simple, the rotating cups blow air downwards. Conservation of momentum garantees that in consequence, the cups need to feel a force upwards.
Dr. Philipp von Bülow, 27 Apr 2010
this helps me so much, i fully understnad now
courtney, 21 Apr 2010
woooow thats so amazing
josh, 21 Apr 2010
But after the peak, when the extra lift is over,
does it stop rotating, start rotating in the opposite direction, why doesn't it come back, why does it go straight and down so gracefully?
Andong, 12 Jan 2010
very fine iwant more related to physics im aphysics teacher teaching class9th to 12
skbarnwal, 13 Jun 2009
wow thats fab
mrs safe, 10 Dec 2007
let us do
minnaing, 25 Nov 2007