Bow and Arrow

__________
Kenetic & Potential Energy

1106D
Dharmawat J. / Nutticha K. / Kornchanok L.
Introduction
Energy can be divided into two classes: Kinetic energy and
potential energy. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the
mass of the objects and to the square of its velocity (KE = ½
mv2). Potential energy is energy that stored within an object,
due to the object’s position or arrangement. When the position
or arrangement of an object changes, the stored energy will be
released. There are two main types of potential energy:
gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.
Gravitational potential energy is energy in an object that is held
in vertical position. Elastic potential energy is energy stored in
an object that can be stretched or compressed, such as
trampolines and rubber bands. The more an object can stretch,
the more elastic potential energy it has. A projectile is an object
that once projected continues in motion by its own inertia and is
influenced only by the downward force of gravity.

Therefore, in this project, our members decided to create

bow and arrow to learn and to have better understand
focusing on kinetic and elastic potential energy. Our project also
included projectile.
Objective
To demonstrate the elastic potential energy in the bow and
how potential energy transfer into kinetic energy.
Physics concept
Process of transferring elastic potential energy to kinetic
energy. There are two types of energy, which are potential
energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy can be classified
into two types, which are elastic potential energy(EPE) and
gravitational potential energy(GPE). We will be focusing on
elastic potential energy and kinetic energy.

We use a formula to find an initial velocity of an arrow by

dividing the distance the arrow traveled by the time taken. The
formula is from the projectile section.
V= x/t
Set up
Materials
1. Bow
- PVC pipe
- A string
- A cardboard
- Angle grinder

2. Arrows

- Bamboo
- A knife

3. Targets

- Feature boards
- Cardboards
- Markers
- PIctures of your friends
- Glue
- Foam sheets
Procedure of the bow
1. Mark a line about an inch from both end of 1.5m PVC pipe.
2. Use an angle grinder to make a rectangular hole and grind a
little more on a side to make it easier for a string to sit
on.
3. Create a death knot with the string on one side of the PVC
pipe. Tie it at the hole.
4. Create a knot about 4 inches far from another hole at
the other end.
5. Put the PVC pipe between your leg by putting the side that
we already tied the death knot on the ground, hold the
other end of the pipe, bend yourself down while holding the
pipe, and put the knot in the hole.
6. Measure the diameter of the pipe, make an arrow rest,
and stick it to the bow with a glue.
Description of the
design
We have an inspiration to make a bow look cool and
fantastic like a weapon from RPG games, so we decided to
decorate a bow under the concept “Artemis Bow.” it was a
magical bow sealed the power by Artemis, the goddess of
arrows. We decorated by cutting cardboard and paper and
coloring with golden spray color and red acrylic color.
Procedure (Arrows)
1. Find the right bamboo stick.
2. Cut the outside of the bamboo stick to make it more
round.
3. Sharpen the tip of the bamboo stick.
4. Notch the other end of the bamboo stick as a nock of an
arrow.
Procedure (Targets)
1. Cut feature boards into 1 big piece and 6 small pieces.
2. Draw a big circle and small circles inside it on a cardboard.
3. Paint the inner circles with a red marker.
4. Photoshop your friends face, print them out, and cut their
edges out.
5. Glue your friends’ faces right at the middle of the circle
and on small feature boards.
6. Attach foam sheets at the back of each feature board.
Data
Measure- Analysis
ment (cm)

Length of 150 The longer the pipe, more energy

PVC pipe it can store. If the pipe is too
short, less energy it can store.
If the pipe is too long, you won’t
be able to hold it comfortably,
therefore you won’t be able to
shoot that far.

Length of 133 The string has to be tight in

string order to store more EPE. If the
string is too tight, the bow will
break in half. If the string is too
loose, less EPE is stored in the
string.
Data (Cont.)
Measurem Analysis
ent (cm)

Length 70.5 An arrow should not be too

of short or too long. If it too
arrow short, it will not be hung on an
arrow rest, therefore you
won’t be able to shoot in a
straight line. If it too long,
heavier the arrow is, therefore
it won’t go that far. Moreover,
the weight of the arrow must
be even from head to toe
otherwise, the arrow won’t go
straightly.

Width of 0.7 The width of the arrow should

arrow not be either too thin or too
thick because it will be hard
for the archer to hold the
arrow comfortably, therefore
the arrow won’t go that far.

Analysis : We think that the bow is proportional to the arrows

because the bow works really well.
Data Projectile

Distance (cm) 300

Time (second) 1: 0.16

2: 0.19
3: 0.36

Average time: 0.24

Initial velocity (m/s) 12.5

Analysis of data
From the data shown on the first table, we can conclude
that the bow and arrows are in the perfect and work very
efficiently. The PVC pipe and string that we used as the
materials of the bow are very strong and can store a lot of
elastic potential energy. When we pull the string and release it,
elastic to potential energy that is stored is transferred to the
arrow as kinetic energy.

From the data shown on the second table, we measured

the distance between the target and the release point, elapsed
the time, and calculated the average time. Initial velocity is
directly proportional to the distance and inversely proportional
to the time. The distance is 300 cm and the average time is
0.24 second. As the result, the initial velocity of the arrow is
12.5 m/s.
Conclusion
According to the experiment, we can see the relationship
between potential energy and kinetic energy and how each
energy transfer to one another. Moreover, we can see the
relationship between the initial velocity, the distance, and the
time.
Recommendation
- Should plan what to do in each day better.
- Should use the time more efficiently.
- Should divide up the work equally.
- Should list all the materials first.
- Should have a more solid plan. We did three attempts to
make the bow. The first one was a cardboard, the second
one was broken in half, and the third one was a success.
- Actually there supposed to be a fiberglass driveway
marker inside the PVC pipe, but we couldn’t find it. If we
had it, the bow could store more energy.
- Should be more careful before doing anything, One of the
members broke the second bow in half.
- Should periodically check your teammates’ mental health.
- Should be careful with danger materials that could injure
other people.
- Don’t point the bow to anybody face.
- Don’t be so reckless when you shoot the bow.
Reference
https://www.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/genchem/netorial/modules/ther
modynamics/energy/energy2.htm

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/energy/Lesson-1/Kinetic-En
ergy

https://www.solarschools.net/knowledge-bank/energy/forms/potential

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/Lesson-2/What-is-a
-Projectile
Work log
1. Nutticha
- Make a bow
- Make targets
- Do lab report
- Do the experiment
- Decorate lab report
- Decorate the bow
- Decorate the presentation
- Buy materials

2. Kornchanok
- Make the bow
- Make targets
- Do lab report
- Do the experiment
- Buy materials
- Decorate the bow
- Make a poster

3. Dharmawat
- Make a bow
- Make an arrow
- Make targets
- Do lab report
- Do the experiment
- Do the presentation
- Buy materials