Height of Frisbee (m) vs Distance from shooter (m)
Set the initial conditions for the Frisbee below. The program calculates and plots the trajectory. Change the values and run it again to compare trajectories for different initial conditions. See below for further explanation and sage suggestions.
| Initial Speed: | m/s |
| Shooter Angle: | degrees |
| Shooter Height: | inches |
| Goal Height: | 19 inches |
| 89 inches | |
| 104 inches | |
| Lift and Drag Coefficients: | values from paper |
| 0 | |
| Enter goal: | during ascent |
| during descent | |
| - |
This program uses a trajectory calculation for a Frisbee with weight of about 180 grams and 11 inches diameter. Since air resistance has a sizable impact on the trajectory, we attempt to include its effects (called drag).
This is based on the work The Aerodynamics of Frisbee Flight from the Undergraduate Journal of Mathemaical Modelling.
It describes the modified equations of motion taking into account drag as well as the effects of gravity.
Note that currently we have not included the effects of spin rate.
The goal height is a constraint. The trajectory calculation runs until either the Frisbee reaches the goal height while travelling downwards, or, if it didn't have enough initial energy to achieve that condition, the Frisbee hits the floor.
See the effect of drag and lift by clearing drag and lift coefficients.
The shooter height is the height at which the Frisbee loses contact with the shooter mechanism during a shot. Set a value appropriate for your situation.
Interested in what happens when you throw a Frisbee? Change the Enter goal radio button to "during descent" to show that more accustomed flight path.
The Clear button clears out the accumulated plots.
You may also be interested in this trajectory calulation of a foam basketball.
* Currently only compatible with recent Firefox browsers.