Editing Bow and arrow (section)

===Parts of the bow===
[[File:Subeshi bow.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A [[Subeshi culture]] bow, circa 800 BCE, Xinjiang Museum]]

The basic elements of a modern bow are a pair of curved [[Deformation (engineering)|elastic]] [[Recurve bow#terminology|limbs]], traditionally made from [[wood]], joined by a riser. However [[self bow]]s such as the [[English longbow]] are made of a single piece of wood comprising both limbs and the grip. The ends of each limb are connected by a string known as the [[bow string]].<ref name=Paterson27/> By pulling the string backwards the [[archery|archer]] exerts [[Compression strength|compression force]] on the string-facing section, or [[Recurve bow#terminology|belly]], of the limbs as well as placing the outer section, or [[Recurve bow#terminology|back]], under [[Tension (physics)|tension]]. While the string is held, this stores the energy later released in putting the arrow to flight. The force required to hold the string stationary at full draw is often used to express the power of a bow, and is known as its draw weight, or weight.<ref name=Paterson111>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 111</ref><ref name=Trad20>Sorrells ''Beginner's Guide'' pp. 20–21</ref> Other things being equal, a higher draw weight means a more powerful bow, which is able to project heavier arrows at the same velocity or the same arrow at a greater velocity.

The various parts of the bow can be subdivided into further sections. The topmost limb is known as the upper limb, while the bottom limb is the lower limb. At the tip of each limb is a nock, which is used to attach the bowstring to the limbs. The riser is usually divided into the grip, which is held by the archer, as well as the arrow rest and the bow window. The arrow rest is a small ledge or extension above the grip which the arrow rests upon while being aimed. The bow window is that part of the riser above the grip, which contains the arrow rest.<ref name=Paterson27/>

In bows drawn and held by hand, the maximum draw weight is determined by the strength of the archer.<ref name=Trad20/> The maximum distance the string could be displaced and thus the longest arrow that could be loosed from it, a bow's draw length, is determined by the size of the archer.<ref name=Trad19>Sorrells ''Beginner's Guide'' pp. 19–20</ref>

A [[composite bow]] uses a combination of materials to create the limbs, allowing the use of materials specialized for the different functions of a bow limb. The classic composite bow uses wood for lightness and dimensional stability in the core, horn to store compression energy, and [[sinew]] for its ability to store energy in tension. Such bows, typically Asian, would often use a stiff end on the limb end, having the effect of a recurve.<ref name=Paterson38>Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 38</ref> In this type of bow, this is known by the Arabic name 'siyah'.<ref>Elmer ''Target Archery''</ref>

Modern construction materials for bows include [[Laminated bow|laminated]] wood, [[fiberglass]], [[metal]]s,<ref name=Heath15>Heath ''Archery'' pp. 15–18</ref> and [[carbon fiber]] components.