Does a heavier arrow punch deeper into a target than a lighter one? More mass means more momentum at the same speed. This experiment tests whether heavier arrow tips penetrate farther.
You shoot arrows with four different tip weights at a thick cardboard target from 50 feet. The tips range from 65 grams to 125 grams. After each shot, you mark the arrow at the target face and measure depth. Each weight gets five trials.
The 125-gram arrows penetrated deepest at about 143 mm on average. The results confirm that greater arrow mass increases penetrating distance.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that a more massive arrow will penetrate further into the target.
The harder something is to stop, the more it pushes into whatever gets in its way. Three athletes shoot arrows with tip weights ranging from 65 grams to 125 grams at a thick cardboard target from 50 feet. After each shot, the arrow is marked at the target face and the depth is measured. The 125-gram arrows penetrated deepest at about 143 mm on average. Greater mass at the same speed means more force behind the shot, so the target material has a harder time stopping the heavier arrows.
How far an object pushes into a material depends on how much mass is behind it. When arrows with tip weights ranging from 65 grams to 125 grams strike a thick cardboard target from 50 feet, the heavier tips go deeper. You mark each arrow at the target face and measure the depth across five trials per weight. The 125-gram arrows penetrated deepest at about 143 mm on average — nearly double the distance of the lightest tips. As mass increases, the arrow carries more force into the material before stopping.
Method & Materials
You will set up a target, measure a distance from it, shoot arrows of different weights at it, and measure how far they go.
You will need a bow, arrows, arrow tips of different weights, a thick cardboard target, a marker, a notepad, a supporter for the target, and an archery stand.
MEL Physics — hands-on physics experiment kits delivered monthly — real experiments, not just reading. (Affiliate link)
The results showed that the heavier arrows penetrated further into the target. This means that the hypothesis was correct. It's interesting to think about how this could be used for hunting different game.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it can help us understand how arrow mass affects its penetrating distance. This can be useful for hunting different game.
Also Consider
Variations to consider include testing different arrow lengths and testing different types of targets.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
