The Role Of Momentum In Soccer

In soccer as in most sports we often hear the term momentum. Momentum, another area of interest in physics is measured as the velocity of an object times its mass. If an object is in motion it has momentum. When a player kicks a soccer ball he transfers momentum to the ball and whenever he receives the soccer ball he slows down the momentum of the ball with his feet. The Magnus effect is of importance to soccer players who want to bend the flight of a ball. It explains why a ball curves through the air when it is thrown, hit, or kicked at the same time it is given a spin. A soccer ball is a projectile that flies through the air because of the velocity provided to it by the player kicking the ball. The ball curves because the player kicks the ball at a certain angle and with a certain velocity. Once the ball is kicked and spun at the same time into the air, it is the air that curves the ball. A lift force and a drag force act on the spinning ball moving through the air. The lift force is the upwards or sideways force that is responsible for the Magnus Effect. The drag force acts in the opposite direction to the path of the ball. On one side of the ball the layer of air collides with air passing by and the collision causes the air to decelerate, creating a high-pressure area. On the opposite side, the layer moves in the same direction as the air passing by, so there is no collision and the air collectively moves faster creating a low-pressure area. The pressure differential creates a lift force or Magnus force that causes the ball to move in the direction of the pressure differential. The Magnus effect can be applied in any direction. Soccer players are well known for the way they use the Magnus Effect to curve free kicks and corner kicks around defenders and into the goal.