TED-Ed: Football physics: The "impossible" free kick - Erez Garty

The video explores the physics behind Roberto Carlos's legendary 35-meter free kick, focusing on the Magnus effect, which causes the ball to curve due to spin-induced pressure differences. It explains the challenges of executing such a kick with precision and discusses the historical context of the Magnus effect, first documented by Isaac Newton. The video also considers the theoretical limits of a soccer kick, concluding that a ball cannot boomerang back to the kicker due to physical constraints.

What law of motion explains the initial movement of the ball after Carlos's kick?

• Newton's third law of motion

• Newton's second law of motion

• Newton's first law of motion

• Law of universal gravitation

What is the primary force responsible for the ball's curve in a banana kick?

• Magnus effect

• Gravitational force

• Centripetal force

• Frictional force

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can affect the success of a banana kick?

• The angle of the kick

• The color of the ball

• The speed of the kick

• The height of the kick

Who first documented the Magnus effect?

• Albert Einstein

• Galileo Galilei

• Nikola Tesla

• Sir Isaac Newton

Why is it impossible to kick a ball so that it returns to the kicker?

• The angle of deflection would increase, causing a spiral

• The ball would disintegrate on impact

• The ball would hit an obstacle

• The air resistance would stop the ball