Impact of the Drag Force and the Magnus Effect on the Trajectory of a Baseball ()
Abstract
We consider the impact of drag force and the Magnus effect on the motion
of a baseball. Quantitatively we show how the speed-dependent drag coefficient
alters the trajectory of the ball. For the Magnus effect we envision a scenario
where the rotation of the ball confines the Magnus force to the vertical plane;
gravity, drag force and the Magnus force make a trio-planar system. We
investigate the interplay of these forces on the trajectories.
Share and Cite:
Sarafian, H. (2015) Impact of the Drag Force and the Magnus Effect on the Trajectory of a Baseball.
World Journal of Mechanics,
5, 49-58. doi:
10.4236/wjm.2015.54006.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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