Final answer:
An archer shooting a bow and arrow must account for gravity due to Newton's First Law of Motion which states that an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. The force of gravity acts on the arrow once it is released from the bowstring, causing it to follow a curved path called a trajectory. To hit a target accurately, the archer needs to adjust the angle of the bow to compensate for the downward curve caused by gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When shooting a bow and arrow, the archer needs to account for gravity because of Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the law of inertia. This law states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction, unless acted upon by an external force.
In the case of a bow and arrow, the arrow is initially at rest and needs an external force to overcome its inertia and set it in motion. Here, the force applied to the arrow is the tension in the bowstring, which propels the arrow forward. However, once the arrow leaves the bowstring, it becomes subject to the force of gravity, which acts vertically downwards. This force causes the arrow to follow a curved path called a trajectory.
Since the force of gravity acts on the arrow throughout its flight, it causes the arrow to curve downwards and fall towards the ground. Therefore, when aiming for a target, the archer needs to adjust the angle of the bow to compensate for the effect of gravity and ensure the arrow reaches the target.
Learn more about Gravity and Newton's First Law of Motion