We have learned about various phenomena and effects that can be witnessed when the body is in motion or at rest. Let us understand what happens when the object spins. In this article, let us study in detail two phenomena – Dynamic lift and Magnus Effect along with their applications.
| Table of Contents: |
What is Dynamic Lift?
Dynamic lift is the force that acts on a body by virtue of its motion through a fluid. It can be defined as:
The force which acts on a body such as an aeroplane wing hydro fall or spinning ball by virtue of its motion through a fluid.
For example, during the game of cricket, tennis, baseball, or golf, we have noticed that a spinning ball deviates from its parabolic trajectory during its motion in the air.
Explanation:
The explanation for the deviation between a spinning and a non-spinning ball is given on the basis of Bernoulli’s principle. For a non-spinning ball, the streamlines around the ball move relative to the fluid (air). From the symmetry of streamlines, it can be incurred that the pressure difference at points above and below the ball at corresponding points is zero as the velocity of the fluid above and below the ball at the corresponding points is the same. Thus, there is no upward or downward force acting on the ball due to air.
For a spinning ball, the air is dragged along a spinning ball as it moves. If the ball moves forward, air relatively moves in the backward direction, therefore, the relative velocity of the air above the ball is larger than that below the ball. The streamlines thus get rarified below and crowded above the ball. The difference in the velocity between the corresponding points above and below the ball result in a pressure difference between the two faces and a net upward force acts on the ball. This results in a dynamic lift that the ball experiences which is termed as the Magnus effect.
What is Magnus Effect?
The Magnus effect is an effect in which a spinning ball or a cylinder curves away from its principle path of flight as can be seen in the image above. It can be defined as:
“The Magnus effect is an observable phenomenon that is commonly associated with a spinning object moving through the air or a fluid”.
The path of the spinning object is deflected in a manner that is not present when the object is not spinning. The Magnus Effect depends on the speed of rotation of the object and the deflection is given by the difference in pressure of the fluid on opposite sides of the spinning object.
In the case of a ball spinning through the air, the turning ball drags some of the air around with it. A spinning object moving through a fluid departs from its straight path because of pressure differences that develop in the fluid as a result of velocity changes induced by the spinning body.
Applications:
Dynamic lift holds great importance in many fields such as aerodynamics and many ball sports. The dynamic lift is given consideration while designing the rotor ships and aeroplanes.
The figure above shows an aerofoil, which is a solid piece shaped to provide an upward dynamic lift when it moves horizontally through the air. We can recall that the cross-section of the wings of an aeroplanes looks like the aerofoil with streamlines around it. When the aerofoil moves against the wind, the orientation of the wing relative to flow direction causes the streamlines to crowd together above the wing more than those below it. The flow speed on top is higher than that below it. Thus, an upward force results in the dynamic lift of the wings.
Magnus effect finds its application in advanced exterior ballistics or external ballistics; which deals with the behaviour of a projectile in the flight.
To know more about the Magnus effect and Dynamic Lift, visit BYJU’S. Also, register to “BYJU’S – The Learning App” for loads of interactive, engaging Physics-related videos and unlimited academic assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Define dynamic lift.
What is the Magnus effect?
State true or false: Magnus effect finds its application in advanced exterior ballistics.
Dynamic lift is seen while playing which type of games or sports?
Does the Magnus effect depend on the speed of rotation of the object?
Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!
Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button
Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz
Visit BYJU’S for all Physics related queries and study materials
Your result is as below
Comments