The positioning of both feet is essential to good technique in archery and shooting sports, including rifle and pistol. Stance affects balance before, during, and after release of the string or trigger. Consider the graph below, excerpted from a book series by Schottenbauer Publishing.
Discussion Questions
What is the maximum force during the step?
What is the mass of the person?
What is the length of time of the step onto the plate?
What is the length of time of the step off of the plate?
Write a linear equation approximating the application of force during the step onto the plate.
Write a linear equation approximating the application of force during the step off of the plate.
Describe the effect of stance shifts during archery or shooting sports.
Celebrate the science of archery and shooting sports with memorabilia from Zazzle! Colorful graphs from Schottenbauer Publishing are featured on these mugs, magnets, keychains, & postcards. Direct links to each collection are included below:
A variety of other sport science collections are also available from Schottenbauer Publishing on Zazzle, which features regular sales on most items. Additional Information
Geometry is essential for both archery and rifle sports. Take a moment to write down a few ways in which geometry affects the precision of the sport. Discussion Questions
What data is necessary to collect in order to understand the role of geometry in shooting?
What spatial perspectives and/or mathematical planes are important for precision?
The position of a rifle or bow is essential to sport shooting, whether with stationary or moving targets. Graphing the position and movement of a rifle or bow provides an interesting activity for classes in physical education, math, and science. Consider the graph below, excerpted from The Science of Archery & Shooting Sports: Volume 2 from Schottenbauer Publishing.
Discussion Questions
Sketch the position of the gun at the following points: (a) Initial Position, (b) Any Intersecting Lines, (c) Final Position.
How far does the nozzle travel in the x direction? In the y direction?
How far does the butt travel in the x direction? In the y direction?
Describe the shape of motion.
What is the average speed of the nozzle in the x direction? in the y direction?
What is the average speed of the butt in the x direction? in the y direction?
How does the arrow sit on the bow? Draw a sketch of the arrow in the bow, in the following positions:
Bowstring loose
Bowstring drawn to maximum
How large is the arrow, proportional to the bow? Describe the following proportions. Are there any other proportions which might be relevant to understanding the bow and arrow?
Arrow length divided by bow width
Arrow length divided by bow height
Arrow mass divided by bow mass
What is the balance point of the arrow? How does the balance point affect the trajectory of the arrow?
What would occur if the arrow were weighted towards either end?
The tension of a bow string provides the force which propels arrows long distances. The bow string acts as a spring, with properties which can be analyzed in a method similar to classical physics experiments.
What is the maximum force on the spring during each of the 3 pulls?
In what direction(s) do the wireless device accelerate?
If a bow string were to possess the same tension as this spring, what would be the resulting acceleration of an arrow with 0.03 kg mass? Calculate the acceleration for each of the maximum forces above.
How is this experiment similar to the pull on a bow string? How is it different?
Additional graphs similar to those above can be found in the following science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing:
