Abstract: Surface coating and impact velocity can dramatically affect cavity formation during water entry of spheres. Duez et al. [Nat. Phys.3, 180 (2007)] present a theoretical limit, dependent on impact velocity and surfacestaticwetting angle, below which air cavities no longer form. We show that transverse spin alters the spheres surface velocity distribution to straddle [...]

Abstract: The complex hydrodynamics of water entry by a spinning sphere are investigated experimentally for low Froude numbers. Standard billiard balls are shot down at the free surface with controlled spin around one horizontal axis. High-speed digital video sequences reveal unique hydrodynamic phenomena which vary with spin rate and impact velocity. As [...]