Frisbee Aerodynamics by Michael Rodriguez

Conclusion

In conclusion to this project, my hypothesis was right. My hypothesis was, that the shape of the Frisbee does allow it to fly by allowing air to flow under it, by means of air pressure, and force it be able to fly pretty far. Air pressure that is different on both, the top and the bottom of the Frisbee while in mid-flight, forces it to soar in the air, but it also need the help of the spinning. So you may say, that the hypothesis was correct, but I didn’t have the whole reason of why it can fly in air due to its shape.

If I could do anything different to my experiment it would be to have a machine that would exert the same amount of force every time it would shoot out the Frisbee. Kind-of like a launcher. I would also work indoors in a clear space, so no wind speed or direction of any kind can interfere.

In total conclusion, the Frisbee is able to soar like an airplane because of the air pressure that acts on it. So the Frisbees' shape does indeed help the Frisbee to fly, but also needs the help of the spinning to fly, so the hypothesis was correct, just not completely correct.

Data/Analysis

Frisbee Aerodynamics

Sorry, for the inconvenience, but graphs nor charts can be put on this prezi.The first chart said, that my brother get the most distance covered and also the most distance covered in the least amount of time. It says that I came in second for distance and my Father got second for time took to cover that amount of distance.

The second chart showed the amount of time it took the Frisbee to cover the distance in Chart 1, in seconds. It shows that my brother had the highest amount of time to cover that distance and that was, 3.01 seconds. It also shows the least amount of time to cover that certain amount of distance, which was from my Father, 0.79 seconds.

By Michael Rodriguez

Procedures

STEP 1:

• Place Frisbee in your hands (flat indented part facing down)
• Wrap index fingers around the edge of the disc
• Place thumbs, if you haven’t already, on the top of the disc
• Place middle finger under the thumb (doesn’t have to be exactly)
• Place ring finger 1” away from your middle finger
• Do the same as the last step, but this time with your pinkie
• Be careful not to let it fall
• Slowly and as carefully as possible take off your non-preferable hand off the Frisbee

STEP 2:

Research

• Extend arm and hand in which the Frisbee rests straight forward
• Fold your arm at the elbow at a 90 degree angle or as close as you can get to it.
• With much force, unfold your arm quickly, but not so much that it deals hurt to you
• Right before you get to the exact position in which you had been at the beginning, curve your wrist to the same side of the hand you’re using.
• Right when you slightly curve it, slightly curve it again upwards towards the sky
• Finally, throw it

STEP 3

Materials

• Take the Disc Maniac| md^2 | midrange driver and place it on any flat surface.
• Pick up your Ruler or Measuring Tape
• Place your measuring tool and place on the Disc Maniac
• Measure the diameter
• With the diameter, calculate circumference
• Record both diameter and circumference in your notebook

• Disc Mania md^2| midrange driver| c-line
• Stopwatch
• Meter Stick
• Ruler or Measuring Tape
• 10-12 Wooden or Metal Stakes
• Notebook
• Writing Tool (Pencil/Mechanical Pencil is preferable)
• Knowledge of Weather (speed of wind, and direction of wind)
• Adult, Guardian or some type of Helper

STEP 4:

Flying has many factors and needs lots of forces for it to actually be able to do. These forces are, thrust, gravity, lift, and drag. These same forces are all used in throwing Frisbees, thrust in the throwing/launching of the Frisbee. Gravity, is always there, no matter what. You can’t take away the force of Gravity. Lift is cause by the angle the Frisbee is thrown and the difference of the pressures under and above the Frisbee. Finally, there is also drag. Drag is actually both the reason that the Frisbee slows down, and the reason it can soar the way it can.

• Check on your TV for speed and direction of the wind
• Record speed and direction in your notebook
• Drive to nearest park with a field or some type of area where you can throw the Frisbee without any natural landmark interfering
• Take out Frisbee and stopwatch
• Have an adult/guardian/helper take the stopwatch and be ready to record the time from when you throw the Frisbee to when the Frisbee lands.
• Throw the Frisbee
• When the Frisbee lands, record the amount of time taken for the Frisbee to touch the floor.
• Take your meter stick and stakes out
• Use your meter stick to find how far away the Frisbee is.
• If it is more than one meter stick away then use the stakes to jam into the floor and not lose where you last measured or miscount how far away the Frisbee actually is.
• Once you have the time it took for it to reach ground, and how far it when then divide the distance the Frisbee traveled by the amount of time it took to travel that far.
• Once you have divided that you now have the speed it flies. Record all the data in your notebook and then do the whole thing, at least 2-3 more times.

Hypothesis

I believe that the shape of the Frisbee does allow it to fly by allowing air to flow under it and by means of air pressure and force it be able to fly pretty far.

Variables

Independent

Way the Frisbee is thrown

Size of the Frisbee

Force put on the Frisbee

Dependent

Distance Frisbee flies

Speed of the Frisbee

Control

Temperature outside

Speed of the wind

Direction of the wind

Direction in which the Frisbee is thrown

Hand position

Location

Introduction

This project was chosen to figure out why it is that Frisbees are able to be thrown randomly into the air and it be able to fly. And how the shape of the Frisbee itself allows it to be able to fly.