why does a frsibee return to you when you throw it in the air?

Question

What’s the physics behind a frisbee action like a boomerang?

In: Physics

Answer 1

A frisbee is an airfoil. As it travels through the air, it generates lift. When you throw a frisbee “boomerang style”, you are throwing it with a steep angle. As it travels, the lift it generates has a vertical component and a horizontal component. The vertical component causes it to rise in the air, and the horizontal component causes it to slow down. Eventually, the horizontal and vertical motion stops, and the frisbee starts falling. As it falls, it starts generating lift again. This time, however, the horizontal component of that lift is towards you, and the frisbee returns.

Of course, you’re generally throwing it into the wind to do this trick, and so the wind helps blow it back to you.