Archery is the sport of shooting arrows at a target, and it is a complex science. The bow is a two-armed spring that stores potential energy, and the arrow is released when the bowstring is pulled back. The arrow straightens out in flight and hits the target straight on. The arrow also vibrates in flight, which is called “fishtailing.”
In today’s modern world, not many people have actually shot an arrow, but we see archery everywhere; in movies (such as The Hunger Games), on TV (Arrow!) and most importantly, the real-life archers shooting for gold at the Olympics.
The skill seems simple enough. You take a bow and arrow, draw the arrow onto the bowstring, take aim, and launch it forward. Simple enough. However, there are various forces that affect an arrow during its launch and subsequent flight, so archers need to consider these unpredictable forces to achieve accuracy. The science behind archery is fascinating, so let’s examine it more closely.
The Launch
First, let’s consider the bow. We can compare a bow to a “two-armed spring” and, similar to a spring, it can store a certain amount of potential energy when pulled back. This energy is now available to launch an arrow.
Once you “nock” an arrow onto the bowstring and pull it back, you’re ready to fire. Once the arrow is released, all that potential energy stored in the bow is converted into the kinetic energy of the traveling arrow. Essentially, the greater the force used to draw back the bowstring (known as the draw weight), the further you draw back the bowstring (the draw length), and naturally, the greater the potential energy stored in the bow and the faster the arrow will launch.
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Keep in mind that there is a limit to how far one can draw back the bow before it breaks.
It is unlikely for such a thing to happen, as we can typically only manage to draw back the bow about 28 – 30 inches.
The Archer’s Paradox
Did you know that archers don’t actually aim their arrow directly at the target? This seemingly foolish practice is due to a fascinating phenomenon called the Archer’s Paradox.
The front part of a bow, where the ends of the bowstring are attached, is known as the bow shaft. When an arrow is placed next to this shaft, it is intentionally aimed slightly off-target, since the arrow actually straightens out once launched and will ultimately hit the target directly (if the archer is skilled, of course).
Archer’s Paradox
Another force that affects the arrow once it is released is vibration. This is a natural force that the arrow experiences, as a sudden but strong force has just been applied to it. This vibrating movement of the arrow is known as “fishtailing”.
Understanding the Science of Archery
Having a grasp of the fundamental information mentioned above, you now have a solid understanding of the scientific essence underlying the captivating and thrilling discipline of archery. It is crucial to comprehend the intricacies of archery and the multiple considerations that a skilled archer must bear in mind before achieving a successful hit on the target, particularly if you aspire to become an archer yourself!
For Fans of the Hunger Games
Now, all you fans of the Hunger Games, prepare yourselves by pulling back your bows, taking aim… and releasing the arrow!