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The spinning ball spiral

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Published 2 September 2010 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation Guillaume Dupeux et al 2010 New J. Phys. 12 093004 DOI 10.1088/1367-2630/12/9/093004

1367-2630/12/9/093004

Abstract

We discuss the trajectory of a fast revolving solid ball moving in a fluid of comparable density. As the ball slows down owing to drag, its trajectory follows an exponential spiral as long as the rotation speed remains constant: at the characteristic distance where the ball speed is significantly affected by the drag, the bending of the trajectory increases, surprisingly. Later, the rotation speed decreases, which makes the ball follow a second kind of spiral, also described in the paper. Finally, the use of these highly curved trajectories is shown to be relevant to sports.

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