GRADES 9-12
AERODYNAMICS OF A BOOMERANG

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: What Is A Boomerang? A boomerang is a curved multi-winged projectile. When thrown properly the boomerang returns near its original starting point. Right-handed Boomerang With Permission and Courtesy Of Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. Origins Of The Boomerang The boomerang is often thought of as a weapon. However, the boomerang has been primarily a recreational and sport toy. The boomerang originated in Australia and was used as a hunting tool by the native Aborigines. The real weapon used by the Aborigines was the killer-stick. The killer-stick shares many properties with the boomerang except one. The killer-stick does not return! The killer-stick was simply a stick, smoothed, sanded and shaped to provide an airfoil cross-section like a wing. This stick actually flew through the air at high speeds and could be thrown very far and with great accuracy. Killer-Stick With Permission and Courtesy Of Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. The boomerang is smaller and lighter than a killer-stick. There is also a more pronounced elbow between the "wings." The boomerang was not used to kill game, but was used to hunt birds. When a flock of birds was spotted, an Aboriginal hunter imitated the call of a hawk. Then, the hunter would throw the boomerang above the birds. The birds would swoop down to elude the "hawk" and fly directly into the waiting nets of the hunter. The boomerang was most likely derived from the killer-stick. Imagine yourself as an Aboriginal hunter. You've studied birds and decided that your killer-stick would fly faster with a sharper angle between the two wing-shapes (like the birdUs). With your newly fashioned stick, you spot your prey and launch your weapon. A breeze catches your killer-stick and carries it into the air. Then your weapon begins to turn around and fly back towards you! This certainly isn't a desirable property in a weapon, but it does make a wonderful toy.