Physics of flying discs

Physics of flying discs

A flying disc can fly through the air because of its shape, weight, initial direction of throw, and spin. The successful flight of a particular disc is determined by these variables as well as others such as deformation.

uitability of a disc

A disc is suitable for flight if its air resistances in different directions are of an appropriate relationship, allowing its flight path to be more efficient in the direction in which it is thrown; and it can therefore be thrown farther than a ball. It must be made of an adequately dense material such that its velocity change due to air resistance is low and the force exerted by gravity is low enough for air flight. Additionally, the shape of the disc must be suited to the throwing action: a flat disc would be inappropriate due to the lack of grip that the thrower could get from the disc, resulting in accidental release.

Air resistance

The two major types of flying disc are the conventional design used in both Ultimate and Disc Golf and the aerobie ring. Although these designs are very different, they both use air resistance in the same way to fly.

Effect on flight distance

When a spherical ball flies through the air, it has the same cross-sectional profile causing air resistance in all directions, while a flying disc does not. Its shape causes it to have much more vertical air resistance (assuming horizontal flight) than horizontal air resistance. This is partly due to the large circular cross-sectional area vertically, but is enhanced by the rim around the edge of the disc which encloses air inside the disc in the same way as a parachute.

Because of this effect the disc is able to fly a longer horizontal distance in a flatter parabola.

Effect on shape of path

The angle at which the disc is thrown alters the ratios of air resistances in different directions, affecting the direction of flight.

The Aerobie

The Aerobie Superdisk is an alternative design of flying disc that, although somewhat differently shaped, still has very similar properties to the conventional disc. It has less air resistance. Because there is less resistance to motion, the Aerobie discs can fly farther than the conventional disc. The Aerobie flying ring has minimal drag and holds the world record for the longest flight by a human-thrown projectile.However, due to the lack of a rim, the Aerobie is less suited to angled, curved flights and air-bouncing.Fact|date=June 2008

pin of the disc

The spin of the disc helps to keep the disc stable in flight and prevent unplanned tilting. This is because a large angular momentum stabilises the disc in the same way that it keeps a gyroscope steady, with the angular force forcing the mass of the disc away from the centre of mass, perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Any unequal force acting on a particular area of the disc is quickly redirected to be equal over the circumference of the disc.

As the disc spins faster, it becomes more stable due to the rapidity of the equalisation of forces.

The centre of mass

On neither the aerobie nor the conventional design is the centre of mass located on the disc itself. It is instead located in the space in the disc's centre in the case of the aerobie, or just below the center of the physical disc in the case of a Frisbee.

Mass of the disc

The force required to accelerate the disc is directly proportional to the mass of the disc. This decreases the acceleration of the disc, assuming that the force of projection is constant. Therefore, discs come in a variety of weights, although those used for Ultimate are mainly 175 g in mass, heavier than the majority of discs and considerably heavier than an aerobie.


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