So whenever I play badminton, I always think why Rubber Part of shuttle is ending up on racquet not feathers. So, can anyone explain me why this happens?
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A large proportion of the mass of the shuttlecock is in the rubber head, but the majority of the drag force that is experienced by the shuttlecock is exerted on the feathered part.
If the shuttlecock is flying so that the symmetry axis is at an angle to the direction of motion, there will be a net torque around the centre of mass which acts to reduce this angle. Once that angle is zero then the torque will be zero.
This means that, providing the drag force is large enough and that the shuttlecock flies for long enough, then it will rotate so that the line of symmetry is in the direction of motion. Having a heavier rubber head moves the centre of mass and therefore the axis of rotation closer to the front end of the shuttlecock and significantly increases the torque exerted by the "feathers".
Note that if the shuttlecock initially flies "backwards" then I think this torque will be even larger because of the way it would "catch" the air. Sketches below.
ProfRob
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