lenben Loc: Seattle

<< http://www.vox.com/2015/6/23/8833851/curveball-illusion-science >>

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Very interesting.

f8bengal Loc: West Nawth Carolinah

If this demo is saying that the curve ball is an optical illusion, and in fact is actually traveling in the exact same trajectory as another ball would under identical conditions of speed and direction but without the spin, then the statement is just flat wrong. Instead of the more or less vertical "movement" of a "curve" ball, consider the "slider" which has more or less horizontal movement which basically eliminates the effects of gravity on its movement.
Imagine two vertical posts erected several feet apart, and a ball released from a point that would make it physically impossible for a straight line to be drawn from point of release to pass between the posts. This has been demonstrated, filmed and verified many times. The ball curves horizontally and passes between the posts! The curve ball curves! With gravity added to the mix, the movement is more dramatic, but the ball does "drop off the table."

f8bengal Loc: West Nawth Carolinah

Furthermore, baseballs and bullets follow the same laws of physics and gravity. A projectile (ball or bullet) launched perfectly horizontal, no matter how fast, will hit the ground at exactly the same time as the projectile simply dropped at the thrower/shooter's feet - assuming no spin action. Therefore, the ball must have an upward moment before it starts to fall or else it would never make it to the "strike" zone. Gravity affects the ball at launch, too, but opposes the upward "velocity" component. But when it does start to fall, at some point between the mound and the plate, gravity really takes over; the g-force and the "4-seam" downward spin act in tandem. And the ball "falls off the table."