Projectile motion

Question 1

Explain the flight path of a shuttlecock

Answer 1

-2 forces acting on the shuttle – weight and air resistance
-Weight of shuttle is very low, AR is high
-AR>W, therefore AR is the dominant force
-Resulting in non-parabolic flight path

Question 2

Describe how a tennis player applies topspin to a shot.

Answer 2

-Apply an eccentric force - outside of COM
-To create topspin the force needs to be applied
above the COM
-Air flow over top half of the ball will be slow moving/high
pressure
-Air flow over bottom half of the ball will be fast moving/low
pressure
-Pressure gradient created – with air moving from high pressure to low pressure and ball being dragged
downwards (Magnus Force)