Tue Oct 07 12:55:40 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, formatted as requested:
**The Hindu Explains: The Science Behind Spin in Sports – From Messi’s Free Kicks to Cricket’s Deceptive Deliveries**
**Published: October 07, 2025, 06:25 pm IST**
**NEW DELHI:** Ever marveled at Lionel Messi’s curving free kicks or the deceptive spin of a skilled cricket bowler? What seems like pure skill is, in fact, deeply rooted in a scientific principle known as the Magnus effect. *The Hindu* explores this fascinating phenomenon, highlighting its impact on sports.
The Magnus effect, named after German physicist Heinrich Gustav Magnus (though predated by Newton), describes the force exerted on a spinning object moving through air or fluid. As the object spins, it creates a pressure difference on either side, causing it to curve or dip in its trajectory. This is explained by Bernoulli’s principle where faster-moving air has lower pressure than slower-moving air.
In football, a player like Messi uses this effect to bend the ball around defensive walls and into the net. By striking the ball slightly off-center, Messi imparts a spin, and the resulting pressure difference causes the ball to curve in flight.
Similarly, cricket bowlers exploit the Magnus effect to make the ball dip and deviate in the air, deceiving batsmen. By imparting spin with their fingers, they create an unequal flow of air around the ball, leading to unexpected movement.
The article emphasizes that sports and science are intertwined, and understanding principles like the Magnus effect can provide a competitive edge.
“Sports and science are a hand-in-glove combination,” the article concludes, illustrating how a grasp of physics can translate to on-field success.
First Piper 