Hypothetical question

[sar]

We'll simplify things to say that the car is a vehicle on a fixed track going exactly 160fps in a windless environment and the arrow is shot from a shooting machine set such that it will always shoot 160fps.  The arrow's not going anywhere.  The 160fps is relative to the platform it's being shot from, not another reference point.

In the real world some other forces might apply, but it won't go real far and might even go backward(bad release or short draw limiting speed, etc)

Vector math from physics 101...

[John3]

Gravity is working on both truck and bow. The energy is still pushing the arrow. Speed will be exactly the same.. Point of release is still the point of release.  32'per second squared.... LOL


JDS III

[Meathook]

If you were inside a closed tractor trailer or an airplane traveling at 160fps and shooting at a target at the back of the box or cabin you would notice nothing different (assuming you were going level and straight).

[Van/TX]

What DG said.  For certain it will travel down the length of the truck bed at 160 fps        ....Van

[Problem Child]

This sounds like a project for MythBusters.  

[Robert Honaker]

A deputy clocked my arrow at 126mph.Converted that's about 185fps.There's no way I woulod stand in the back of a pick-up doing 126mph.But it would be fun to watch someone else try it.

[Plumbob]

OK, I'll drive, someone hop in. You aren't using my bow though, and noone tells my wife.

[Jim now in Kentucky]

sar  and meathook  have it right.  I took  physics  too.

Now, put a deer on a steel-hauling truck (one of  those  with the narrow one-person cab). Make  that  truck  and  the  one you are on tear  down  the  road at 160 fps and  shoot  the deer.  The same thing  will happen as would  happen if  the trucks  were  stationary.

The deer traveling at 160 fps runs into the arrow,  which is stationary relative to the road. The deer's vital  area  passes around the arrow.

I might have  a better chance  that way!  

[Deerhntr]

Rainman couldn't do this math.

[skeaterbait]

I say the arrow falls directly to the ground. However, due to the bow having stored energy, the truck would be propelled to light speed and enter an alternate dimension where archery doesn't exist.

That'll learn'em.

[Old York]

Hmmm. First, we have to ask, "Is this a Ford or a Chevy?" There was a time when I could puzzle this out, but now? Well, my bow is so fast...the string is water-cooled. The windshield best be arrow-proof!

I'll wait to see the actual testing done in JackArseIII.  

[Jeff Strubberg]

Throw out a bunch of other factors and sure, the arrow would drop.

In reality, the drag of the fletching in the vortex behind a vehicle moving that fast means that arrow is going anywhere but straight down.  

Translated====I don't want to be within fifty yards of this particular experiment....

[Steve H.]

....could you get an anti-equalibrium state where if you were going slow enough at release then accelerated that the force of the arrow would actually DRAW the bow!?!?!

[chrisg]

Here's another example that may add to the puzzle. NASA uses 747s on an alternating climb/dive flight cycle, trainee astronauts inside get to experience weightlessness on the dive cycle. IE relative to the interior of the plane they are weightless but the plane itself is moving real fast downwards! ? Vector physics says the arrow will drop but who would be on the truck and shooting at that speed?

[Caddo]

Hold my beer......Watch this!!!!!!!!

   


LD

[Keenan]

Ok this is gettin good, Now if the truck was going 175 fps. and the bow shot an arrow at 160 fps. (out of the bacK) The arrow would in essence leave the bow travleing backwards. Then as air frction hit the fletches in arrow would flip 180 to correct flight  then hit the poor fool shooting because the driver stopped to see what happened,,,Possible,!!!Keenan

[30coupe]

Isn't it amazing how our posts digress as hunting season winds down?

[Brian Krebs]

Which broadhead is best for this: a two or three blade- or a four blade???

[houseman]

Stop the insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wtpops]

"If you were inside a closed tractor trailer or an airplane traveling at 160fps and shooting at a target at the back of the box or cabin you would notice nothing different (assuming you were going level and straight)".

"What DG said. For certain it will travel down the length of the truck bed at 160 fps"


This is incorrect the arrow would be standing still and the back of the truck would run into the arrow at 160 fps.