Subject: Magnus Effect, interesting sailing applications(s)

Well, I found this presentation on the Magnus Effect, interesting and thought others might also.

see at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OSrvzNW9FE&feature=youtu.be
The video shows the result of applying some spin and dropping a basketball over a dam’s edge.

Then simple physics and aerodynamics take over as the basketball astonishingly "flies" through the air, rather than simply falling.

The footage, which has amassed more than 3.5 million views since being posted online Wednesday, shows the basketball travel an incredible distance before finally hitting the ground.

A person on the video could be heard saying:

“I literally just dropped it, with a bit of spin, like I didn’t even throw it and it just took off. We had no idea it was going to do that,” another echoed.

According to the video’s creator, the phenomenon can be attributed to the Magnus Effect, which pushed air on the ball in a way that resulted in the effect.

Some experiemntal cargo ships are now using this to an advantage.

Watch the video to understand what happens.

Watch to the end and you'll see an amazing "basket" made after the ball falls more than 400 feet.

It is incredible as well as the ball flying.

Last edited by tomthouse; 07/17/15 08:50 AM.