If an astronaut fired a powerful bow in space, would the arrow fly forever?

Answer 1

Yes, the chances of it hitting anything are remote, space is mostly empty.

Answer 2

Probably, but it would depend on where she was in space, and which direction she fired the bow, and how fast.

If she's in orbit close to the earth (say traveling east around the equator), then it will probably fall to earth if she fires it to the west, and will probably continue in earth orbit if she fires it to the east.

But if she fires it fast enough (in either direction), it will reach escape velocity and will break out of earth's orbit, and go into an independent orbit around the sun (just like another planet).

If she fires it still faster, it will exceed the SUN's escape velocity, and leave the solar system.

Now, if you're talking about the case where the astronaut is already far, far away from the solar system, then the arrow will probably fly forever regardless of which direction or how fast she fires it.

Answer 3

certainly it is extra complicated than what's asserted above. in assessment to a gun, a bow has 2 levels, as you launch the string, the riser will shop off on your hand by fact the limbs bypass forward. Then after the arrow leaves the string, the limbs will shop going forward dragging the riser alongside with it. If the riser is heavy, Olympic recurves or Compound bows, the secondary effect isn't as stated. yet while the riser is easy, English longbow, Turkish/Mongolian bows, the effect is amazingly stated. try capturing an english longbow with an open hand and you will see the bow flying forward at magnificent speed. So i does not be stunned if the guy certainly circulate forward at an exceedingly slow fee extremely than backwards.

Answer 4

Until it hit something, yes. Assuming this is an astronaut on the shuttle or ISS, unless it's speed were greater than somewhere around 15 miles per second, or whatever solar escape velocity is minus the astronaut's speed, it would likely assume a stable orbit around the sun, like a planet or comet. If it were less than about 2 miles per second, even if shot in the same direction as the astronaut was already orbiting, it would assume a stable orbit around Earth.

Answer 5

"Forever" is relative. Let's say we measure time on an exponential scale, or t^x, where t is some unit of time, and x increases. X wouldn't have to go very high before we run into the final stages of the existence of this known universe, and that would include the arrow itself. Even protons are theorized to eventually decay in time, so that the arrow would simply cease to exist.

Answer 6

Only until it struck the apple on his head -- that could take a few centuries however. In space the arrow would be no lost momentum until it struck another object.

Answer 7

it depends if the energy from the bow makes the arrow move or if it makes the astronaut move.

Answer 8

Yes. And if he farted, he would fly across space forever too.

Answer 9

I guess, until it hit something or the gravity of a planet sucked it in.

Answer 10

well, in theory yes because there's (almost!) no friction, until it hits an object or until it's attracted by some other object's gravity