Description
A boomerang is a curved object, usually made of wood, with the profile of an airplane wing, which can return after being thrown. The most common form is the boomerang as a flat, curved piece of wood (two wings), but there are also boomerangs with three or more wings, and even a single wing is possible if the center is weighted. It is sometimes thought that a boomerang was used for hunting. This is probably not the case. It was used as a curiosity, or to impress other tribes. It is best known from the Aboriginal people of Australia, but boomerangs have also been found in Europe and Egypt. In the Netherlands, boomerangs have been found near Vlaardingen and Velsen dating back to the first century BC. Australian boomerangs were generally throwing sticks. A throwing stick (also called a hunting stick) goes straight and does not return. It also moves quickly and spins rapidly, making it suitable for hitting small animals such as birds. Prehistoric cave drawings have shown that certain tribes used the boomerang in a traditional dance to "capture" the air spirits. These were necessary to perform certain rituals, which were performed in their natural (naked) form. Generally, a boomerang is lightweight and not dangerous. However, it can also be quite heavy and return with considerable speed. The solution is to never lose sight of it and, if necessary, step aside. A boomerang can be left-handed or right-handed. When a right-handed boomerang is thrown like a left-handed one, it will travel straight ahead. If a boomerang is thrown correctly, it will initially travel straight ahead, but will then return in a circular path. It is possible that it will then follow a smaller circular path in the opposite direction, forming a figure eight. The thrower must take the wind into account when doing this; In general, a boomerang can only be returned successfully if it is thrown at a certain angle into the wind, with a certain force, a certain rotational speed, a certain angle relative to the ground, and a certain takeoff angle. This can only be learned through extensive practice, and all boomerangs differ somewhat in these respects. Learning to recognize/predict flight is a key aspect of good throwing. This allows the thrower to predict the landing spot to some extent. If necessary (and possible), the thrower can walk to it and prepare for the catch. The wind speed is a major factor in a successful throw. Throwing is easiest in light or no wind. In stronger winds, it is also possible to adjust the throw. However, small errors in throwing technique can have serious consequences. Above wind force 3, it is not recommended to throw. If you do throw, you could end up with nasty injuries.
