|
Archery
is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the
use of a bow. Archery has historically been used for hunting
and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a
recreational activity. One who practices archery is typically
known as an "archer" or "bowman," and one
who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a
"toxophilite."
(source-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archery)
Types
of bows
While
there is great variety in the construction details of bows
(both historic and modern) all bows consist of a string
attached to elastic limbs that store mechanical energy imparted
by the user drawing the string. Bows may be broadly split into
two categories: those drawn by pulling the string directly and
those that use a mechanism to pull the string.
Directly
drawn bows may be further divided based upon differences in the
method of limb construction, notable examples being self bows,
laminated bows and composite bows. Bows can also be classified
by the bow shape of the limbs when unstrung; in contrast to
simple straight bows, a recurve bow has tips that curve away
from the archer when the bow is unstrung. The cross-section of
the limb also varies; the classic longbow is a tall bow with
narrow limbs that are D-shaped in cross section, and the
flatbow has flat wide limbs that are approximately rectangular
in cross-section.
A
compound bow is a bow designed to reduce the force required to
hold the string at full draw, allowing the archer more time to
aim. Most compound designs use cams or elliptical wheels on the
ends of the limbs to achieve this. A typical let-off is
anywhere from 65%–75% – for example, a 60-pound compound
bow will only require 15–20 pounds of force to hold at full
draw.
The
unique Penobscot bows or double-bows of Wabenaki region (New
England and the Canadian Maritimes) are sometimes suggested to
be an ancient compound bow. They involved a small bow attached
to the back of a larger main bow. This combination results in
both substantially increased draw weight for a relatively small
main bow, useful for hunting the moose and caribou of the
region, and the ability to adjust the draw weight by tensioning
the small bow.
Mechanically
drawn bows typically have a stock or other mounting, such as
the crossbow. They are not limited by the strength of a single
archer, and larger varieties have been used as siege engines.
(source-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archery)
To
the Top
|
