updated: 3 April 2008
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This web page is a list of web links with scientific information about why boomerangs work. Some of the links provide lessons on aerodynamics and flight science to help you understand the technical details. |
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World's Largest Boomerang (Gerhard Walter of Austria, 259 cm Span): http://www.kleinezeitung.at/regionen/steiermark/graz/687896/index.do Boomerangs in Space http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Japanese_astronaut_to_throw_boomerang_in_space_999.html http://www.physorg.com/news125297819.html http://gizmodo.com/370678/japanese-astronauts-space-boomerang-came-back http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDZlY2EwODQ4ZDUyYWM3Zjc5Nzk0YWNjZjAzZTllMzU |
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USA Visit the Hyperphysics Boomerang Science web page for a complete explanation about how a boomerang works. This site includes an explanation about how gyroscopic precesssion works. Jani Macari Pallis of Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. has posted several web pages that discuss Aerodynamics in Sports Equipment, Recreation and Machines . There are also explanations for advanced, intermediate and beginner levels of education and a teachers lesson plan. NASA has a Learning Technologies K-12 Home Page with links to several pages about boomerangs such as the Four Wing Boomerang and Finger Boomerang pages. You can also download a great Macintosh or Windows application that shows airflow around an airfoil at various angles of attack! The USBA has posted a small web page on Boomerang Science View Dwight Souder's web page with information about Boomerang Science Jim Mayfield's " Why a Boomerang Returns " is hosted by Colorado Boomerangs Applied Aerodynamics - An online textbook with information about aerodynamics. C Johnson, a Physicist from the Univeristy of Chicago has posted a nice article explaining Aerodynamic Lift, Bernoulli Effect & Reaction Lift. You can also find out how gyrpscopic precession works at the hyperphysics web site which also explains How Gyroscopic Precession Makes a Boomerang Turn. |
Europe Austria Gerhard Walter
has constructed what is probably the largest returning
boomerang in the world with a span of 259 cm (8.49 feet) and
a weight of 1045 gm (37 ounces). The boomerang is made of
Fir and has epoxy tips. The flight range is 25 metres.
Gerhard has posted a web page where you can see photos and
view a movie of the World's
Largest Boomerang. Belgium Eric Brasseur has posted a really nice article with
scientific comments about Making
His First Boomerang. Denmark Ulf Valentin
has a wonderful U. V.
Lightrangs web page with links to a photo gallery,
games and software. Check out the software link to see the
results of his scientific
modeling of the boomerang on the computer. England Martin
Laslett of the The
British Boomerang Society has published a rather
nice series of web pages on how
to throw and why boomerangs return. Hugh Hunt, a displaced Aussie lecturer at Cambridge
University has written a rather nice explanation for
why
a boomerang returns. This one is really worth
visiting. It includes a discussion on how gyroscopic
precession affects boom flight. Germany Georg Hennig
has posted a web page with boomerang
flight simulators called wxBumms
and Boomsim. These computer programs try to show the
results of the equations of motion developed by Felix Hess
in 'Boomerangs, Aerodynamics and Motion' (1975). You can
choose different boomerangs that behave differently. The
behaviour is determined by the moment of inertia, radius,
mass, forces and torques of the boomerang. You can choose
values of the environment (wind speed and angle of attack)
and values concerning the flight, e.g. speed, spin, aim,
tilt. You can also download Georg's
Boomerang Thesis in pdf format (>4 MB and in
German). Lithuania Saulius
Pakalnis, Ph.D, from Vilnius has published an Aerodynamics
of Boomerangs web site with seven chapters covering
all the basics of why boomerangs fly. Learn about the Coanda
effect and why this is a better model than Bernoulli's
principle for explaining Aerodynamic lift. Learn about
gyroscopic precession and how this scientific principle
makes a boomerang turn. Basic instructions for making a
boomerang are included. Terrific art depicting boomerang
shapes only found in Lithuania.