Applications of Physics to Archery

Abstract

Archery lends itself to scientific analysis. In this paper we discuss physics laws that relate to the mechanics of bow and arrow, to the shooting process and to the flight of the arrow. In parallel, we describe experiments that address these laws. The detailed results of these measurements, performed with a specific bow and arrow, provide insight into many aspects of archery and illustrate the importance of quantitative information in the scientific process. Most of the proposed experiments use only modest tools and can be carried out by archers with their own equipment.