Final answer:
An arrow is a successful low-velocity projectile because it can be launched at different angles to navigate factors like wind and obstacles, with a small angle generally preferred. The motion of projectiles, including arrows, involves the conversion of energy forms. Understanding the angle, kinetic energy, and external factors like wind is crucial in archery and similar applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
An arrow is an effective low-velocity projectile because of its ability to be fired at different angles to achieve a desired range. For a given initial speed, there are two angles at which a projectile can be fired to cover the same range – a smaller angle closer to the horizontal and a larger one. The smaller angle is often preferred by archers since it is less affected by extraneous factors like wind. However, an archer may use the larger angle to shoot over obstacles or cover greater distances when necessary. In contrast, a punter in football may use a higher trajectory to give teammates time to reach the landing spot before the opposition.
When considering projectile motion and its properties, factors like air resistance are often ignored in basic physics to simplify calculations; this is why devices like composite bows, which have been effectively used for centuries, can fire arrows accurately at long ranges.
Shooting an arrow involves the transfer of kinetic energy to potential energy as the bow is drawn and back to kinetic energy as the arrow is released, which is a principle seen in various systems, including electronics.