Aerodynamics · Puzzle #71
Magnus Effect
What is Magnus Effect?
The lateral force generated on a spinning body moving through a fluid. Spin drags the surrounding fluid around with it, speeding flow on one side and slowing it on the other, which is why a topspin ball dives and a curveball curves.
The five clues
Engineerdle #71 described Magnus Effect with five clues, revealed one at a time from hardest to most direct. Each clue points at a different property of the concept.
- 01Every sports commentator has described it without naming it.
- 02It requires both translation and rotation.
- 03It's why a topspin tennis ball dives and a curveball curves.
- 04Flettner built ships with spinning cylinders to exploit it.
- 05Spin creates a pressure difference and hence a side force.
More Aerodynamics concepts
A new engineering concept every day: five clues, five guesses. How early can you name it?
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