This brings to mind the amazing video I have seen in the past. A large feather is dropped in a vacuum, along with a heavy bowling ball, both at the same considerable height. Given the lack of friction in close to a perfect vacuum, both objects fall at the same rate.

Here is the video: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/11/04/fun-video-a-bowling-ball-and-feather-fall-in-worlds-biggest-vacuum-chamber/

which is why a 4-seam fastball (almost pure backspin) appears to "rise," while breaking pitches (with side or even forward spin) drop.

There has to be some sort of texture to the ball for this to happen. I remember seeing some sort of demonstration of a golf ball that was custom made without dimples. A TV host hit it squarely and it only went half the distance of the standard ball with dimples. If you've ever been to a golf tournament and stood maybe 20 yards from the tee, the ball makes this sizzling sound. The backspin and the dimples provide lift that keeps the ball from dropping, even though the dimples increase drag. Also - if you see the profile of a driver, it's at an extremely low angle, even though it's supposedly a 45 degree angle that's ideal for distance. It's also pretty crazy what the trajectory of a golf ball looks like.

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/golf.html

I always wondered how Tim Hardaway did it, since his shot little backspin. Spike Lee even directed a Nike commercial making fun of his shot.

[video=youtube;tmYP4J0Viww][/video]

Naw, best physics demo ever is the monkey and the gun -



So where do you aim, in order to hit the monkey?

you aim half past a monkey's @$$

OldenBear;842516359 said:

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Naw, best physics demo ever is the monkey and the gun -



So where do you aim, in order to hit the monkey?

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I remember my freshman physics class (7A) with Professor Bingham (who epitomized the jovial, absent-minded professor to a great degree ), and they set up this experiment with an air-gun shooting ping-pong balls and a stuffed-animal monkey attaced to a pole with a magnet. There was electric circuit attached to the nozzle of the air-gun that would break the magnetic connection and release the monkey as the ping pong ball exited the gun. I still remember that the first attempt worked fine, and that then Professor Bingham mentioned that this was true independent of the velocity of the bullet, and reduced the air-pressure of the gun. Of course, on the next attempt, the air-gun just puttered out of the gun and bounced several times across the table .

OldenBear;842516359 said:

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Naw, best physics demo ever is the monkey and the gun -



So where do you aim, in order to hit the monkey?

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Right at the monkey; the projectile and the monkey drop at the same rate, in a vacuum at least.

But I guess you all knew that

Yeah, I've got fond memories of Harry Bingham, too. Freshman, the Physics 4 series. We're all sitting in PSL waiting to start the final exam; three hours worth. Harry has the TAs hand out the exam, makes a few announcements, and then walks out - telling us all he hopes we have a good time, but he's going home to have a nice steak dinner and a great bottle of red wine. Walks up the stairs on the side of PSL, carrying his briefcase, with a huge smile on his face. I think it's at that point that I decided to major in physics.

RIP

Bearprof;842516599 said:

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But I guess you all knew that

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but not until you see it :beer: