An experimental investigation of the dynamics of a tennis ball

The current study is an attempt to experimentally realise the effect of the wind velocity on the motion dynamics of tennis ball using results from wind-tunnel experiments. The study utilises a novel technique using imaging methods in retrieving the meniscus variation of the manometer across the boundary layer. The analysis was conducted at different locations near the tennis ball at different flow conditions to quantify the velocity distribution and thereby the boundary layer thickness. Results indicate that a back flow occurs near to the ball surface at an upstream location, and the location gets shifted further upstream as the surrounding air velocity is increased.