Editing Bow and arrow (section)

==Basic design and use==
[[File:19th century knowledge archery drawing the bow.jpg|thumb|upright|Drawing a bow, from a 1908 archery manual]]

A bow consists of a semi-[[Stiffness|rigid]] but elastic [[Arc (geometry)|arc]] with a high-tensile [[bowstring]] joining the ends of the two limbs of the bow. An arrow is a [[projectile]] with a [[Arrowhead|pointed tip]] and a long shaft with stabilizer [[fin]]s ([[fletching]]) towards the back, with a narrow notch (''[[Nock (arrow)|nock]]'') at the very end to contact the bowstring.

To load an arrow for shooting (''nocking'' an arrow), the archer places an arrow across the middle of the bow with the bowstring in the arrow's nock. To shoot, the archer holds the bow at its center with one hand and pulls back ([[Bow draw|draws]]) the arrow and the bowstring with the other (typically the [[dominant hand]]). This flexes the two limbs of the bow rearwards, which perform the function of a pair of [[spring (device)#Types|cantilever spring]]s to store [[elastic energy]].

While maintaining the draw, the archer typically aims the shot [[Point shooting|intuitively]] or by sighting along the arrow. Then the archer releases (looses) the draw, allowing the limbs' stored energy to convert into [[kinetic energy]] transmitted via the bowstring to the arrow, propelling it to fly forward with high velocity.<ref name=Paterson27>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' pp. 27–28</ref>

A container or bag for additional arrows for quick reloading is called a ''[[quiver]]''.

When not in use, bows are generally kept ''unstrung'', meaning one or both ends of the bowstring are detached from the bow. This removes all residual tension on the bow and can help prevent it from losing strength or elasticity over time. Many bow designs also let it straighten out more completely, reducing the space needed to store the bow. Returning the bowstring to its ready-to-use position is called ''stringing'' the bow.