The Physics of Sports: From Baseballs to Bicycles

Every pitch in baseball follows a ballistic arc shaped by gravity and air.
The curveball bends because of the Magnus effect, where spin changes airflow.
In soccer, kicked balls swerve and dip for the same aerodynamic reasons.
Golf balls fly farther thanks to backspin and dimpled surfaces reducing drag.
Cyclists battle air resistance, which dominates energy use at high speeds.
Drafting behind another rider reduces drag, saving up to 30% of effort.
Tennis players add topspin to make shots dip quickly into the court.
Long jumpers and sprinters rely on projectile motion and force analysis.
Physics explains how equipment design—from bats to bikes—boosts performance.
Sports are living demonstrations of motion, energy, and aerodynamics in action.