physics

[Furface]

It's all Greek to me

[joetapley]

This topic is covered in Section 34a of the Parthian military training manual "shooting arrows from chariots at speed".

"If an arrow leaves the bow at speed S it travels away from you at speed S irrespective of the direction"

[joetapley]

PS in terms of doing damage to the enemy, If the enemy soldier is in front of you you would aim as if your launch speed was 180mph. The only way to injure someone behind you (and they would have to be fairly close) would be to aim at a high angle so the arrow drops on them from a height.

[clickerati]

Those clever Parthians never cease to#amaze me!!</p>

TJ...pass the paracetamol! :wink:</p>

[gwynn]

parthians don't count as i have yet to hear of a horse that can do 90mph
don't think there will be a 'tail wind' as the arrow is already going backwards at 90mph before you even loose it.
i more i ponder, i think the arrow will just fall to the ground as you and bow travel away from it at 90mph. it's as though you have shot the bow and held the arrow isn't it?
damn, i have to try this
but then, a thought springs to mind. what happens if the car is doing 100mph? will the arrow fall backwards?
have sent my son to college with instructions to ask his physics tutor.
but i really can see me trying this, need a race track.......

[joetapley]

Well OK horses doing 90mph is a bit hypothetical, but then so is running into a bunch of Parthians on the M62

i think the arrow will just fall to the ground as you and bow travel away from it at 90mph

Exactly.

[Furface]

I seem to recall a play by Tom Stoppard in which, using a combination of Einstein and Zeno, he proved that arrows would never reach their target before achieving infinite mass, and so "St. Sebastian died of fright". Sorry - can't remember the detailed arguments, but they convinced me!

[KevinH]

gwynn - 4/5/2005 1:05 AM
but i really can see me trying this, need a race track.......

may I suggest experimenting with the lower velocities of a water pistol out of the car window

[Dave]

KevinH - 4/5/2005 10:38 AM

may I suggest experimenting with the lower velocities of a water pistol out of the car window

</p>

Kevin, you're being far too sensible! I suggest we try it with a bow out of the back of my Golf this weekend at Broughton </p>

[joetapley]

Dave
To comply with safety regs don't forget to tow an 'Archery in Progress' sign (shopping trolley?) at a suitable distance behind the vehicle.