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 cover of The Geometry of Summer Olympic Sports, to the right above, features an archer taking aim.
Discussion Questions
- What angles can be measured on the diagram, in order to understand the accuracy of technique? The path of the arrow?
- Is any essential information missing from the picture? What is necessary in order to measure that information?
Geometry diagrams featuring archery and shooting sports are available in the following books from Schottenbauer Publishing:
Geometry Workbooks
Additional Information
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?
- Is this most likely a toy rifle or a toy handgun?
Graphs and data on archery and shooting sports can be found in the following science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing:
Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series
Anthologies of 28 Graphs
Additional Information
What is the balance point of an arrow, and why does it matter? The data below (Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved), excerpted from the book series The Science of Archery & Shooting Sports: Volume 1 from Schottenbauer Publishing, describe the balance point of a toy arrow.
Discussion Questions
- 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?
Graphs and data on archery can be found in the following science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing:
Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series
Anthologies of 28 Graphs
Additional Information
