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Sports

The Magnus Effect in Table Tennis Topspin

Quick fact

The Magnus effect is named after German physicist Gustav Magnus, who described it in 1852, but the effect was known to cannonball makers in the 1700s who observed spinning projectiles curving in flight.

Why this is interesting

Ever wonder why a table tennis topspin shot curves downward and then speeds up after the bounce, as if it has a mind of its own? The secret lies in a century-old physics phenomenon called the Magnus effect.