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The bow and arrow is perhaps the oldest weapon invented by man for his survival and protection. There are many unique circumstances when you might have to use a bow and arrow for your protection, for instance, when you are stranded alone in the wild jungle, or maybe just for the sake of a good recreational purpose. Creating a bow and arrow is very simple and you can draw from almost any type of resources that are at hand. Here are some tips you might find useful- The Principle The bow is a stringed weapon that is used to launch an arrow at your target. The speed for propulsion of the arrow is provided by the tension created in the bow when you draw it back on the string. This tension is converted in kinetic motion when the string is released, shooting the arrow. So essentially, the speed with which the arrow is shot depends on the amount of tension that is generated in the bow when it is strained. The other factors that affect the motion of the arrow are the type of arrow material, its weight, the way it is streamlined, and the length of the arrow. Making a Bow Making a bow is simple and you can use different materials. Mostly wood is used but you can also use metals, or wood and metal both. The bow ideally should have a length of about one meter. When looking for the type of wood to use, you can safely use pine as it is easy to bend and found in abundance in most places. Using a dry wood is better compared to green wood. Although green wood can be used it will not have the firmness that dry wood offers. This is directly related to the amount of tension the bow can produce. As a rule, the center of the bow should be stout and thick, with a uniform circumference. When you are using a wood stick for a bow, make sure that you bend the wood along its natural curvature. All woods have some curvature and you can easily make this out by stretching and bending the wood. The String There are many options when selecting the string. It could be simple nylon, metal wires, or even vines. Make sure that the string is sturdy and will not snap when pulled back. Before stringing the bow you will need to cut out slight notches at the end of the bow so that it is firmly held in place. Tie the string at one end of the bow, arch it optimally and then tie it at the other end, so that an arc is formed. Making an Arrow You can use arrows made of wood, metal or even of synthetic materials. The basic requisites are that your arrow should be very straight with a uniform circumference. When using wooden arrows you can streamline the arrow with a knife to make it straight. You will also need to create a tiny notch at one end so that the arrow fits on to the string firmly. This is important for providing the best thrust for the arrow. This same end can be glued with feathers or other such materials, and you will need to use some arrowhead on the target end. Arrowheads can be made of plastic, metals, or other pointed objects. Make sure that you use arrow heads that have a good symmetry.