Dynamics of the Bow and Arrow

Ahyoung Choe, summer UTRA, 2013

 

The high-speed movies shown below were obtained using an experimental study of the dynamics of the bow and arrow. More details of the experiments and experimental data are described here.

 

The recordings were taken using three synchronized cameras at 4500 fps. One camera records the motion of the bow; another gives a higher resolution view of the arrow; and a third looks just ahead of the bow to observe the flight of the arrow after it has left the bow. The arrow is fired into a tube for safety. The marks behind the arrow are 5cm apart.