I am a great fan of Terry Pratchett's discworld books, his details are usually fantastic or accurate (or both). But in "The Fifth Elephant" Detritus' giant crossbow has serious recoil - has Terry made a mistake ?
2006-10-12 06:00:19 · 18 answers · asked by Aspphire 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Research suggests that crossbows recoil forwards *and* backwards, that the recoil becomes less the greater the mass of the bolt ! with maximum recoil (in experiments) being 5 times the weight of the bow, for a bolt of infinitely small mass.
2006-10-13 22:09:41 · update #1
yes they do
2006-10-12 06:02:22 · answer #1 · answered by Skuya!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The recoil of the crossbow is directly related to the size of the bolt and the speed it reaches when it leaves the string. As others in this string have mentioned, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, the momentum of the bolt (mass x speed) is also given to the crossbow. if the cross bow is held loosley, it will accelerate backwards if the bolt is 1 unit mass and travels at 10 units speed and the crossbow is 10 units mass it will recoil with 1 unit speed. the bigger the bolt the bigger the recoil and the faster the release speed the bigger the recoil
2006-10-12 06:13:28 · answer #2 · answered by adken77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they have recoil. Basic physics. It comes from Newton' third law of motion: "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction". This means that for a force to be exerted on the crossbow bolt, a force in the opposite direction must be exerted on the crossbow itself, and thus on the person. The reason the person doesn't go flying backwards is to do with mass. As the bolt has less mass than a person, it will move much faster than the person, with the same force acting on it.
2006-10-12 06:10:59 · answer #3 · answered by Steve-Bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every Action has an equal and opposite reaction.
An Arrow flies away, there is a similar amount of force that is in the opposite direction. Now, that recoil may be small or unnoticable, (I don't know I've never fired a crossbow), but it is there.
You could also state with accuracy that the bigger the arrow, the bigger the recoil would be, up to a point where it would be felt, or even powerful.
2006-10-12 06:04:14 · answer #4 · answered by SybotCB 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Mike is correct.
Recoil is usually associated with firearms, where the force of the explosion goes back toward the shooter and up.
The force of the crossbow's string flying forward forces the crossbow forward and down. The heavier the "pull" (energy the string releases) the more "recoil".
2006-10-12 06:16:25 · answer #5 · answered by adphllps 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yup, but due to the rigidity of the construction of the crossbow - giving it its usually higher velocity - you dont feel the kick back (recoil) as much. But nevertheless, it is there. - also someone pointed out the recoil is towards the tip of the crossbow, with momentum moving away from you - that is correct.
2006-10-12 06:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by professordimenna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, he has not made a mistake. Just remember, for any action there is an equal and opposite reaction (this is the recoil). This applies to any system that throws or launches any form of missile.
2006-10-12 06:03:58 · answer #7 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they recoil, the arrow gains momentum forwards, so the crossbow must gain an equal amount of momentum backwards.
2006-10-12 07:16:04 · answer #8 · answered by THJE 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES!
Newtons Third Law tells you that there must be a recoil.
**For every action ther must be an equal and oppisite reaction**
Newtons Second Law tells you that it will recoil with a force equal to the product of the mass of the bolt and it's acceleration.
**Force = mass x acceleration**
2006-10-12 06:23:37 · answer #9 · answered by Gamaliel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
crosbow have only a very slight recoil that does not effect the shot because the slight recoil is after the bolt has left
2006-10-12 06:13:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends how powerful they are if there an adult Cross bow they have quite a bit of recoil but not as much has a rifle/shotgun
2006-10-12 06:02:41 · answer #11 · answered by Philipp 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋