When I stood 1,063 ft at the top of the Eiffel Tower I wondered what it would be like to drop a soccer ball off with a little “english on it” (spin) to the soccer field visible to you each time you ascend another flight of stairs on the beautiful iron structure. This video shows an amazing example of the physics of the Magnus Effect. With examples of the difference between a straight down drop and one with backspin (a little english) added. It goes on to show examples of real world applications utilizing the Magnus Effect.

 

Topspin, for example, is defined as spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel, where the top surface of the ball is moving forward with the spin. Under the Magnus effect, topspin produces a downward swerve of a moving ball, greater than would be produced by gravity alone, and backspin has the opposite effect.

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