Affects of arrow speed at various distances??

[jimmerc]

So it is off season now for me and this gives me way to much time to think!( that's a scary thought) The other day while shooting, I got to thinking about arrow speeds at various distances! At what point does an arrow start to slow down? I guess an arrow leaves the string picking up speed then some where's it peaks then starts to slow down! Am i right, or way off here? What I'm getting at here is with all the variables equal, if you shot a deer at 2 yards,5yards 8yards and so on would you see a difference in penitration, again all variables equal! Or is the differences in the speed so little that it doesn't matter?  I don't have a crono or never really cared what my speed was,I just shoot! I did notice the other day while playing with my bow that at say just a couple yards there was a small difference in target penitration vs 10 yards! maybe an inch less on an 10 shot avg. What you folks think??   Can you tell I'm getting bored waiting for fall?  I think i'll go chuck hunting now!!

[Orion]

The speed of the arrow begins to slow immediately upon leaving the bow, just as a bullet begins to slow immediately after leaving a gun barrel.  The arrow slows much faster, of course.  However, the decrease in arrow speed makes little difference in penetration at normal hunting ranges, say 30 yards or less.  Penetration might be a little better at 20 yards or more than it is right out of the bow, say at 5 yards, because the arrow is still occillating and not flying as straight at five yards as it will be at 20 yards.    

[Caleb the bow breaker]

Orion is correct as soon as the string quits pushing the arrow friction takes over and the arrow begins to slow.  

C

[Ragnarok Forge]

Yep, and his statement about better penetration at range is also true.  The arrow has to stop osscilating before you get the best penetration with it.

[brinkwolf]

Gravity is what slows the arrow and a bullet. That wonderful down force that keeps us from floating off into space. Also why we must arc a shot from a bow or a gun. The slower an object, the more gravity affects it(why your bow wont shoot as flat as a gun). Unless there is some means incorporated to provide lift(like a golf balls dimples) an object will start falling/slowing as soon as it clears the propelling force(bow/gun).

[Ragnarok Forge]

Air friction slows the arrow, Gravity makes it fall to the ground.

[TheFatboy]

Clay is right. People underestimate how much resistance there is in air.

[TheFatboy]

Or, well, while it DOES naturally affect velocity, when something is travelling horizontally, and is being pulled vertically, air friction is still the great sinner here.

[zwickeyman]

You will also find that like a heavier arrow penetrating more because of momentum, it also keeps more momentum down range. Actually, a heavy arrow out penetrates a light arrow the farther away from the bow the more the differance increases.

[brinkwolf]

Ok I will agree your correct they both come into play and affect the projectile but I will leave it with this. Both arrows and bullets have means to counter act the force of the air around them. Arrows have feathers and bullets are fired from guns with riflings that impart spin on them. There is nothing you can put on them or fire them thru to counter act the force of gravity. A force constantly pushing down on an object will slow it down.

[calgarychef]

 

Here we go!!

[jimmerc]

I guess I was way off, and should have known the answer! I forgot about arrow osslation! Thanks for the responces!  I was getting bored the other day as I said, went chuck hunting and put on a couple stalks but just couldn't beat those sharp eyes this time out!! I feel better now!! Just had to go hunt something besides stumps and targets!!