Matt

How Does the Mass of a Projectile Affect Trajectory? toc =Matt's Research Proposal= My question will be “How does mass of projectile affect trajectory?” or more specifically “How does arrow mass affect the trajectory?” How I will test this is I will shoot my bow with diff. arrows (light to heavy) at different distances and by using the point of impact, I should be able to determine how the arrow is flying when in the air. I can use information gained from archery magazines, and the many archery forums such as Bowhunters group of Aus and Aus archery action on the internet. Also there are a few archery books in the library. (I don’t have specific locations but I know there’s a lot of info out there on this topic)

The independent variable is arrow mass. The dependent variable is point of impact on target as this is what I will use to be able to draw up what the arrows trajectory is like. The controlled variables are angle of shot, power of bow (easy to get the same power with a compound bow because the cams only allow you to draw to a certain distance then u can’t pull anymore), target height, sight setting (will use one sight pin to make sure angle of release of the bow is kept constant), wind (have to do all my experimenting when there is little or no wind).

The equipment and materials I will need, I have most of. I will need….
 * My compound bow (can’t draw to far so you can’t add more or less power to the bow, you can only draw to one point)


 * a few different arrows, probably 3-300’s 3-350’s and 3-400’s (the 300, 400 etc. is how they measure the mass of the arrow/ the strength with 400 being lighter and 300 being heavier)


 * A target that is preferably about the height of the bow when I’m holding it as I believe this will show trajectory more (as you will be aiming at a target on a flat angle to the bow, whereas if the target was on the ground you would be shooting downwards which could alter trajectory)


 * A sight to make sure my angle of release is the same

I have a lot of safety factors. The main thing is that my shooting has to be done with a backstop behind the target so my arrows can’t damage anything behind it if I miss (never happens). I also will have to do my experimenting at home with a safe shooting range away from people etc.

I will easily be able to repeat my experiment a few times. I will be able to get a pretty accurate estimation of the trajectory in an hour.

My Research Paper [|My Research Paper]

__ Variables and Hypopotamoose __


 * Question ||  Independent Variable (What I change)  ||  Dependent variables (What I observe)  ||  Controlled variables (what I keep the same)  ||   ||
 * "How does the mass of a projectile affect trajectory?" || arrow mass, distances  ||  P.O.I (point of impact)  ||  Do all the testing under the same environmental conditions, the bow/power of bow, sights (my aiming point as it will keep my shooting angle the same), arrow components,  ||   ||
 * "How does the mass of a projectile affect trajectory?" || arrow mass, distances  ||  P.O.I (point of impact)  ||  Do all the testing under the same environmental conditions, the bow/power of bow, sights (my aiming point as it will keep my shooting angle the same), arrow components,  ||   ||

As I increase the weight of my arrow, then the arrows P.O.I will get lower. Also as I increase distance, the heavier the arrow the greater it will drop.

__ Materials & Procedures __ __Materials__ To carry out my experiment I will need…  · A Bow (I will be using my PSE Stinger Compound bow set at #60 draw weight)

 · __At least__ 3 arrows of different weights (I will use 300’s, 350’s and 400’s which are the three out of four of the most common arrow sizes. I would use 500’s as well but if I shoot them in my bow they will explode.) These arrows will also need matching components (fletching, arrow head, arrow head insert, knock, etc. as this will make only the shaft change the weight.)

 · A Target

 · A Safe-Shooting range

 · A Sight on my bow to keep my shot angle the same

 · A tape measure and paper to record results

__Procedure__ 1. Get Safe shooting range ready. 2. Get the target ready to shoot at, at the end of the range. 3. Get everything else prepared. 4. Pick the lightest arrow (400) and stand at 5m 5. Fire at target, make sure you’re aiming with the one sight pin 6. Record where the arrow hit from the top of the target 7. Repeat 4-6 at 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m, 35m, 40m. 8. Now repeat 4-7 with the next weight arrow (350), then do it with the (300). 9. Once you have gained all results you can draw up an estimated trajectory.