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"The characteristic banana-like shape of most returning boomerangs has hardly anything to do with their ability to return. . . . The essential thing is the cross section of the arms, which should be more convex on one side than on the other, like the wing profile of an airplane." (From "The Aerodynamics of Boomerangs," by Felix Hess, Scientific American, November 1968, p. 124.) Explain.

"The characteristic banana-like shape of most returning boomerangs has hardly anything to do with their ability to return. . . . The essential thing is the cross section of the arms, which should be more convex on one side than on the other, like the wing profile of an airplane." (From "The Aerodynamics of Boomerangs," by Felix Hess, Scientific American, November 1968, p. 124.) Explain.

Grade:upto college level

1 Answers

Deepak Patra
askIITians Faculty 471 Points
8 years ago
When boomerang is thrown correctly, it rapidly spins about its axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. During the flight, its axis undergoes a precession and traces a curve path. In the whole process, the dynamic lift force plays an important role. For a boomerang to return back, the cross section of it should be such that it is more convex on one side than on the other. Such shape will provide an unbalanced dynamic lift and precession of its axis so as to return back on its original place.

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