Popular Mechanics Why a Curveball Curves

April 1, 2008
Have you always believed the scientists who say that a curveball is just an optical illusion? Well, guess what: theyre wrong. A curveball, according to this wonderfully informative book, really does curve, and even the illustrious Isaac Newton knew it (he even wrote a paper about it, more than 300 years ago). Its all in the way the ball is spinning, and something called the Magnus Force. There are even a couple of illustrations here to help you understand the explanation. Of course, the book isnt just about pitched baseballs, or even just about baseball: it talks about basketball, soccer, hockey, golf, and several other sports; and it answers some very interesting questions, such as why Gretzky really was the greatest (an innate ability to translate physical cues into action) and how you, too, can bend it (a soccer ball, that is) like Beckham. A must-read for sports fans, physics buffs, and general audiences too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)