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Backspin Basketball Flies Off Dam

Veritasium · demo · Watch on YouTube

Everyday physics & science demosFundamental physics

What it is

A short Veritasium video showing how far a backspinning basketball would travel dropped off a dam. It demonstrates the Magnus effect and links to Flettner rotor ships and aircraft.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as a quick, clear demonstration of the Magnus effect behind spinning-cylinder ships and planes.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2015, last 2021

What HN commenters said

  1. “There's a decent video by Veritasium about the Magnus Effect”

    Decent Veritasium explanation of Magnus effect and backspin lift

    sndean, 2016-11 · Recommendation · in “Bouncing bomb”

  2. “There's a great Veritasium video explaining the Magnus effect and the Flettner rotor here”

    Great Veritasium explanation of Magnus effect and Flettner rotor

    pqdbr, 2020-12 · Recommendation · in “Rotating Sails Help to Revive Wind-Powered Shipping”

  3. “There is a really nice demonstration of the effect in this video”

    Really nice demonstration of the effect

    krisoft, 2021-05 · Recommendation · in “How to design a sailing ship for the 21st century?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: magnus effect, flettner rotor, backspin, aerodynamics, veritasium

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