I Maximizing Compound Bow Power: The Role of Longer Limbs Explained

AI Thread Summary
Longer limbs on a compound bow can contribute to increased power due to enhanced tension and energy storage, but they are not the sole factor. The bow's design must balance limb length with other dimensions to optimize energy transfer to the arrow. Proper material use is crucial; excess weight from components not involved in energy storage can hinder performance. Additionally, the bow string and pulley system must be matched to the arrow for effective energy release. Overall, a well-balanced design is essential for maximizing a compound bow's power.
kingofjong
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
TL;DR Summary
longer limbs equal more power
Hello

If a compound bow has longer limbs will it have more power? Longer limbs means more limbs, hence more tension is building when limbs bend. That tension transfers to the bow string. Is this a true statement. I know there are other factors for making a powerful compound bow. Is long limbs one of the factors for powerful compound bow.

Thanks
Kingofjong
 
Physics news on Phys.org
kingofjong said:
If a compound bow has longer limbs will it have more power?
The length and strength of your arms dictate the length and thickness of the bow, and any compound arrangement.

Energy is stored in the bow by elastic compression and tension. The stored energy must be distributed throughout the bow material, in a way that can be recovered quickly, without failure. Component material not fully involved in storing energy must be carried around as unnecessary extra weight.

The force on the arrow needs to be maximised over the available period of time. The bow string is involved in impedance matching the bow to the arrow. There will be an optimum arrangement of string and pulleys beyond which only very light, or very heavy arrows, will be released efficiently.

If you change one dimension of the bow, you must compensate by changing other dimensions to maintain or increase the available energy stored. You need a balanced and matched design. Length is not everything.
 
Consider an extremely long and perfectly calibrated scale. A car with a mass of 1000 kg is placed on it, and the scale registers this weight accurately. Now, suppose the car begins to move, reaching very high speeds. Neglecting air resistance and rolling friction, if the car attains, for example, a velocity of 500 km/h, will the scale still indicate a weight corresponding to 1000 kg, or will the measured value decrease as a result of the motion? In a second scenario, imagine a person with a...
Scalar and vector potentials in Coulomb gauge Assume Coulomb gauge so that $$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=0.\tag{1}$$ The scalar potential ##\phi## is described by Poisson's equation $$\nabla^2 \phi = -\frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}\tag{2}$$ which has the instantaneous general solution given by $$\phi(\mathbf{r},t)=\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\int \frac{\rho(\mathbf{r}',t)}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}d^3r'.\tag{3}$$ In Coulomb gauge the vector potential ##\mathbf{A}## is given by...
Dear all, in an encounter of an infamous claim by Gerlich and Tscheuschner that the Greenhouse effect is inconsistent with the 2nd law of thermodynamics I came to a simple thought experiment which I wanted to share with you to check my understanding and brush up my knowledge. The thought experiment I tried to calculate through is as follows. I have a sphere (1) with radius ##r##, acting like a black body at a temperature of exactly ##T_1 = 500 K##. With Stefan-Boltzmann you can calculate...
Back
Top