Does a curveball really curve? or is it just an illusion

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SUMMARY

The discussion confirms that a curveball in baseball does indeed curve due to the physics of spinning. The differential pressure created by the ball's rotation causes it to deviate from a straight path, a phenomenon explained by the Magnus effect. This effect is crucial for understanding the trajectory of spinning objects in sports.

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I was just curious because I do actually watch and play baseball, does a curveball actually curve or is it just an illusion of our depth perception.
 
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It really does curve!

Because the ball is spinning, the pressure on one side is greater than the other, so it is pushed to the side. For the nitty gritty details, google "Magnus effect".
 

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