Re(2): Student question??

[Clarence Bennett <bennett@OAKLAND.EDU>]

> PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu writes:
> > Perhaps some of you can
> > > > help.  He is a tennis player and was wondering why a ball
> > > > hit with top spin bounces higher than a ball sliced over the
> > > > net with backspin.

At the Oct. meeting of the Mich local aapt meeeting, the featured speaker
was a pool shark-physicist, whe talked about how the rebound from the
cushion was not equal angle, and was dependent on the spin of the cue ball.

The cushion is not rigid and has high friction with the ball, so the spin
couples with the rebound energy.

I assume a similar thing happens with tennis ball and grass or whatever.

I don't remember his name, but could find it if needed.





Clarence Bennett
Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan 48309
248 370 3418
http://www.acs.oakland.edu/physics/staff_info/Bennett.htm