why do boomerangs come back when you throw them?

Answer 1

Why Does It Come Back?
Unlike an airplane or helicopter propeller, which starts spinning while the vehicle is completely still, you throw the boomerang, so that in addition to its spinning propeller motion, it also has the motion of flying through the air.
In the diagram below, you can see that whichever wing is at the top of the spin at any one time ends up moving in the same direction as the forward motion of the throw, while whichever wing is at the bottom of the spin is moving in the opposite direction of the throw. This means that while the wing at the top is spinning at the same speed as the wing at the bottom, it is actually moving through the air at a higher rate of speed.



When a wing moves through the air more quickly, more air passes under it. This translates into more lift because the wing has to exert more force to push down the increased mass. So, it's as if somebody were constantly pushing the whole spinning propeller of the boomerang at the top of the spin.

But everybody knows that when you push something from the top, say a chair, you tip the thing over and it falls to the ground. Why doesn't this happen when you push on the top of a spinning boomerang?

If you've read How Gyroscopes Work, then you may have already guessed what's going on here. When you push on one point of a spinning object, such as a wheel, airplane propeller or boomerang, the object doesn't react in the way you might expect. When you push a spinning wheel, for example, the wheel reacts to the force as if you pushed it at a point 90 degrees off from where you actually pushed it. To see this, roll a bicycle wheel along next to you and push on it at the top. The wheel will turn to the left or right, as if there were a force acting on the front of the wheel. This is because with a spinning object, the point you push isn't stationary, it's rotating around an axis! You applied the force to a point at the top of the wheel, but that point immediately moved around to the front of the wheel while it was still feeling the force you applied. There's a sort of delayed reaction, and the force actually has the strongest effect on the object about 90 degrees off from where it was first applied.



In this scenario, the wheel would quickly straighten out after turning slightly because as the point of force rotates around the wheel, it ends up applying force on opposite ends of the wheel, which balances out the effect of the force. But constantly pushing on the top of the wheel would keep a steady force acting on the front of the wheel. This force would be stronger than the counterbalancing forces, so the wheel would keep turning, traveling in a circle.

If you've ever steered a bicycle without using the handlebars, you've experienced this effect. You shift your weight on the bicycle so that the top of the wheel moves to the side, but every bicycle rider knows that the bike doesn't tip over as it would if it were standing still, but turns to the right or left instead.

This is the same thing that is happening in a boomerang. The uneven force caused by the difference in speed between the two wings applies a constant force at the top of the spinning boomerang, which is actually felt at the leading side of the spin. So, like a leaning bicycle wheel, the boomerang is constantly turning to the left or right, so that it travels in a circle and comes back to its starting point.

Answer 2

Well first off, they dont come back if you dont throw them correctly. Whats happening is that the boomerang is an airfoil, like a wing or helicopter blade. It's unique shape and its rotation through the air are what cause it to describe a continuous turn. Assuming it is thrown right handed, as it spins (again think of a helo blade) one side is always advancing through the air, and one side is retreating. This creates a slight imbalance in the lift generated on the right side of the center of mass. Because it is the right side advancing, the right side experiences a little more lift, the left a little less, and the boomerang turns left as a result. An aircraft will do the very same thing, if the pilot applies aileron, but no rudder, it will still turn, although its very slow.

Answer 3

They don't always come back; you have to throw them just right.

However, if you DO throw them correctly, the shape of the arms are formed in just such a way that they form two wings, but they're offset in such a way that instead of a straight line, the path of the boomerang curves. Throw with enough force to maintain its motion and at the right angle to catch the air in just the right way, the curve will be a circular path right back to you.

However, learning to do this takes a lot of time, practice, and (in my case) money... I kept flinging it and misjudging the way it flew, so it ended up going through neighbors' windows and in the sides of cars and things WAY off to the side where I didn't expect it to go. And people used to HUNT with these things...

Answer 4

definite. i've got gathered and thrown boomerangs on condition that i exchange right into a baby. i've got made some hundred as properly. they are ordinary to make yet you would be surprisingly gentle throwing and catching them before you're making some so as which you recognize even in the adventure that your new one works. there are various video clips on YouTube that coach returning boomerangs, even with the undeniable fact that it is not particularly comparable to seeing it in actual lifestyles. purchase a sturdy boomerang and supply it a attempt! sturdy ones at the instant are not ordinary to discover, and there are different ornamental boomerangs accessible that are unlikely to return to you. the two links under are 2 boomerang distributors that sell basically high quality returning boomerangs. the 1st one additionally has links to surprisingly plenty another place on earth to purchase sturdy boomerangs. sturdy success!

Answer 5

The differential air equation of the densities and velocities of the slight concave and parabolic curvulatural laminar flows of the diametric planes, ensure that the boomerang performs a loop.

Answer 6

Because the resultant of forces acting on the rotational object does not equal zero, rather tend towards the rotation which you throw...
You provide the rotational force when it leaves your hand, therefore the object tends to this side.

If you did not rotate as you threw it, it would not return to you.

Answer 7

I actually find that they don't usually come anywhere near back to me after i throw them.

Answer 8

It's to do with the shape. If thrown properly it will come back.

Answer 9

If thrown correctly and the correct shape it will.

Answer 10

no idea but if you want to get rid of one put it down and walk away