#Interesting Thought: How Does a Boomerang work ?
Friday, June 11, 2010 @ 2:29 AM
Have you ever wondered how a boomerang works? Well,most boomerangs that are designed to return to the thrower are made of two wings brought together with a slight twist at the junction. Just like the boomerang in the picture above. Most of the time, boomerangs are pictured to be a wooden device, however, modern boomerangs used for sport are often made of carbon-reinforced plastics. Boomerangs come in many shapes and sizes too depending primarily on their function. However, the most recognisable type is the returning boomerang, in the picture above.
Not all boomerangs are returnable. Non-returnable boomerangs were used by native Americans and Ancient Egyptians for killing rabbits and birds! Basically, this is the flying path of the boomerang.
So how does it work?
There are main two principles involved. Like any wing it flies because it develops lower pressure on top than underneath and the air pressure pushes it up.
The reason it returns is because it is spinning and moving through the air at the same time and it operates like a gyroscope. A force is generated (by the fact that the two winglets are moving in different directions relative to the airflow) that tips the wing to the inside. This force is no more mysterious than watching a cyclist leans sideways on a bicycle to turn a corner. If the cyclist were stationary and leaned they would fall over.
