1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve Camray. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you welcome to Stuff you Should Know 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: from house Stuff Works dot com? Hey, and welcome to 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 1: the podcast. I'm Josh Clark. There's Charles W. Chuck Bryant 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: that makes this stuff you should know? As if you 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: didn't know, you know, you know, Yeah, we trust you. 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: We worked for a website called how Stuff Works dot 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: com and we're going to take an article at random 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: from the site right now. I've never seen it before, 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: and we're just going to start talking about it. You're ready, Chuck, 11 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm spinning the wheel and stop. Oh shoot, what is it? 12 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: Almost landed on the batmobile? Oh? What is it? Instead? 13 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: I can't I can't be bothered to look to the 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: right crossbows? Okay, how crossbows work? All right, let's start 15 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: talking just off the top of my head, Chuck. Have 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: you ever seen the TV show Walk King Dead? Awesome 17 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: show in nice choice of weapon. I know you saw it. 18 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: I just got into it. You mean I watched the 19 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: first six episodes the first season. It's so good. Have 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: you started season two yet? Not? Yes? So don't tell 21 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: me anything. Okay, I don't want to know if Nick 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: Fisher dies, they're still zombies out there. Okay, good, okay, good, 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: Although I have to say I'm not very happy with 24 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: that one subplot of like the sexual tension subplot, that 25 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: conflict that's brewing and hasn't really so um. But overall, 26 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: I think it's an awesome show, and I think, like 27 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: you said, Darryl Dixon's choice of weapon is pretty awesome. 28 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: If not very practical, it's pretty awesome. And that is Yeah. Yeah, 29 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: it is quiet because you don't want to alert the 30 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: zombies the geeks, but he has a finite amount of 31 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: arrows or bolts that he has to go retrieve from 32 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: the heads of zombies that he's just shot between the 33 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: eyes after they fall. I thought was him. I'd hit 34 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: up a hardware store or a sporting good store, get 35 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: a bunch of those like in Red Dawn. Yeah, load up. Yeah. 36 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: Every time I watched that show, I keep telling Emily, 37 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: I'm like, they have everything they want. Like there, it's 38 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: like a struggle to get gas. There's cars everywhere, and 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: it hasn't been that long. It's not like a hundred 40 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: years after where everything has been rated. There's still stuff everywhere. Yeah, 41 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: and there's very few people to raid. Yeah, it's fine, alright, 42 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 1: go get some arrows. They're reusable. In fact, the shot 43 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. I'll tell him where you can pick them up. 44 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: Norman read us an email. Where would you send him? 45 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Go to? Uh, Thick Sporting Goods okay, ten ten for 46 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: a dollar, not the mom and pop a army navy stores. 47 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: Uh yeah, I would go to one of those supports 48 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: small business exactly. Go to Bob's Bolt House. I love 49 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: Bob's in the bolt district. Uh, it's so Chuck. You've 50 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: seen a crossbow before? Then? Yeah, I want to buy 51 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 1: one after this? Yeah, I kind of like when to. 52 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: I don't know that either of us should be trusted 53 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: with one. Um. Obviously somebody took a bow, bow and arrow, 54 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: slapped it on top of a rifle and said, I 55 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: just made me a crossbow. That's what happened, and it's 56 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: probably a very recent origin. The end, good night, not true, 57 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: Josh Liar. Archaeologists like Indiana Jones have found crossbows as 58 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: far back as year old Chinese graves. Isn't that crazy? 59 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: That is crazy? Um? And they think that it may 60 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: be as much as four thousand years old. That that 61 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: technology in China two thousand BC. Perhaps um. They appeared 62 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: in the Mediterranean by the fourth century. A d Roman 63 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: military used them. Was written down in the in the 64 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,839 Speaker 1: text I love this guy's name of Flavius Vegeta, Vegetius 65 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: vegetis renatus. His family invented broccoli. They called him flave 66 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: though you know they did. Uh. They were all over 67 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: Europe during the Middle Ages. The crossbow was basically like 68 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: you said, rifle meets bow, right, But this is long 69 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: before anybody thought of a rifle. That's true. But I 70 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: mean think about it, you like, that's what you think 71 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: it is. It's got like a trigger and there's a 72 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: stock and all that stuff. But it's it. It predates 73 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: the rifle by many thousands of years. Didn't Vinci draw 74 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: one of these up to Yeah, it's a it's a 75 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 1: page zero art chuck. Um. The there's a common among 76 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: the Mediterranean and the Chinese crossbow where the bow obviously 77 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: the stock which is also called the tiller, and um 78 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: the a groove in the stock or the tiller that 79 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: the arrow or bolt flew down. Um a trigger, but 80 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: the trigger mechanisms were different. Apparently, if you were in 81 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: the Mediterranean, you were trigger firing. Your trigger triggered the 82 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: firing mechanism by uh not twisted nuts, right, Okay. If 83 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: you were in China, it used some bolts and levers 84 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: system of levers that fired the released the string and 85 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: fired the bolt. And these firing mechanisms are different enough 86 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: that archaeologists believe that they were independently conceived of in 87 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: China and in the Mediterranean. That's pretty cool. Yeah, uh 88 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: most Another common device you'd see most often is a stirrup. 89 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: And if you ever look at a crossbow, you'll notice 90 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: that it has a little steel stirrup on the front 91 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: of it where you can put I was trying to 92 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 1: think of them, but it's a stirrup. So what you 93 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: do is you put it on the ground and put 94 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: your little foot in that stirrup so you can hold 95 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: it down real tight, and you and you pull it back, 96 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: pull the draw string back with both hands apparently equally 97 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: on both sides. It's important because you don't want it 98 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: out to whack. You know, if it's off balance, the 99 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: air is not gonna fly right now or true meat. 100 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: And so you pull it back and you hook it 101 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: on a You know, they're all different, but you hook 102 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: it on a little peg device that will be released 103 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: by pulling the trigger. And that's the basic fundamentals. So 104 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: the crossbow doesn't just look cool, it has somebody. It 105 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: does look very cool and has it poses some actual 106 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: advantages over the bow. And the bow has been around 107 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: since before people even knew how to write, or knew 108 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: that there was such thing as writing, because there wasn't yet. Um. 109 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: And so what the crossbow does is it takes the 110 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: bow and all of its disadvantages and says, well, here, 111 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: let me add this, and let me add that, let 112 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: me change this a little bit, and all of a sudden, 113 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: now any fat slob can shoot a bow and arrow. Yeah, 114 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: if you got a bow. If you if you're not, 115 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: if you're traditional bowman or an archer, is bow and 116 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: even a word, I think it is now a right. 117 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: If you're traditional archer, you are probably pretty strong, and 118 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: you might be sort of tall, and you are pretty quick, 119 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: because um, it's pretty quick process to draw up the bow, 120 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: aim it, and shoot it. You've seen Lord of the Rings, 121 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: seeing Lord of the Rings. But the longer it takes 122 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: you to aim, the more tired you're gonna your little 123 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: arms are gonna be the less accurate you're gonna be 124 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: with a with a crossbow. You know, you can cock 125 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: that thing and you're done, right, It just sits there 126 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: cocked indefinitely until you pull the trigger. Yeah. I wouldn't 127 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: walk around like that unless you're like a hunter maybe 128 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: or some jerk. Yeah, but don't do it in your backyard. Um. 129 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: So it takes that that need for endurance, yeah, in 130 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: in you know, holding it waiting for somebody to come 131 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: around the bend. And yes, and like you said, it 132 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: also introduced a whole new, uh subpar breed of warrior 133 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: because if you are a great archer, that means, like 134 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: I said, you're probably strong, probably a little bit taller 135 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: for the age because people are shorter. Back then, long 136 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: bow was stronger, shot, straighter, and further. So you want 137 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: to use a long bow. But you know, if you 138 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: got a crossbow, if you can pull that thing back, 139 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: that's all you need to do. But sometimes you didn't 140 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: need need to pull that thing back. Well, you can 141 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: pull that thing back generally because you're using a stirrup, right, 142 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: which means you're using your foot and if you have 143 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: a little hook attached to your belt, then you're you're 144 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: doing a squat and that's how you're pulling, That's how 145 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: you're cocking the crossbow. Right. Well, I imagine it's probably 146 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: like a dwarf or maybe an elf, like you know, 147 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: elves are kind of undeveloped. Um, but you're you're standing 148 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: up basically to cock the bow the crossbow, and um, 149 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: you're using your buttocks and your thigh muscles, which are 150 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: the strongest muscles in your body. So you could just 151 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: be like a total upper body woods but ripped from 152 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: the waist down. You're a cross bowman or a cross archer. 153 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: That's true. But what I was saying was was the 154 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: krannikin sometimes you didn't have to pull it back at all, 155 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: because in fourteenth century Europe they began making this thing, 156 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: this device called a crann Akin that you could put 157 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: on your crossbow, had little toothed wheel and a crank 158 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: and it would basically pull the string back for you. 159 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: You're just cranking it like you're opening, um, your grandmother's 160 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: windows at her house, you know, like the little crank thing. 161 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: But as you're doing that, it's cocking the bow. But 162 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: it's cocking a bow that you couldn't possibly cock yourself, 163 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: which means that you're about to shoot a bolt that 164 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: can go right through a tree or pretty significantly deep 165 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: into a tree, or better yet, into a war horse 166 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: or the human being. That's right. The problem is it 167 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,559 Speaker 1: takes forever to crank the crann akin, and in some 168 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: cases some models, you had to crank the krann akin, 169 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: get it cocked, and then remove the crann akin, put 170 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: the bolt in and then shoot. So it was very powerful, 171 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: but it was very slow, which is one disadvantage of 172 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: a crossbow. I wouldn't have wanted went back in the day, No, 173 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: But if you were in China and you wanted to 174 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: get some shots off pretty quick, they had a crossbow 175 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 1: for you. They had an automatic crossbows. If that shot 176 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: several bolts a second, it had a magazine that would 177 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: just feed bolts into the into the crossbow, which would 178 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 1: um cock through level levers. The moment it was cocked, 179 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: it would shoot the bolt, and then another bolt would 180 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 1: come down, and the moment it was cocked another bolt, 181 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: it would shoot it, and so on, and so if 182 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: you were going really fast you could just rain bolts 183 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 1: down on somebody. The problem is, um it was fast, 184 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: but it wasn't very accurate, and it wasn't very deadly, 185 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: but it probably scared the tar out of people who 186 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: saw it. And the bolt didn't travel that fast. It 187 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 1: was fast to shoot, but not fast in flight. But 188 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: I've tried to find a picture of that thing because 189 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: I could not fathom it in my brain, and I 190 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: couldn't find any obviously because it was a long time 191 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: ago before it was pre pictures. Right. Uh, let's talk 192 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: about physics, Josh, because this is my favorite thing to do. Well, 193 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: this is a Trace E. Wilson article, So of course 194 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: there's going to be a section on the physics of crossbows. 195 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: There is. Um, So, a bow is basically a spring? 196 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: Did you know that I used to shoot? Did you 197 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: really you knew that a bow is basically a spring? Well? Sure, 198 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: I read that like four times. Really, yeah, I think 199 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: that's very neat. So like to take a bed spring, 200 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: all right? And I heard you. I heard that you 201 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: used to shoot. I want to know about it, but 202 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: I'm just like knee deep in the physics. Now, um, 203 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: you take a spring, you stretch it out. What you've 204 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: just done is um generate? Well you haven't generated it, 205 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: but you've just somehow amassed elastic energy, potential energy, potential 206 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: energy through the elasticity of the spring. Okay, as you're 207 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: holding it, all of that energy is potential. It's like, 208 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: just let me go and I'll do some crazy stuff. 209 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: So much potential. The moment you're like, oh, the potential 210 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: energy becomes kinnectic energy. I believe we talked a lot 211 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: about this roller coasters. Um. The same thing with the bow. 212 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: When you pull a string, it's connected to either end 213 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: of the bow. You're pulling the bow back, you're changing 214 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: its shape. It's slick a spring being stretched out, but 215 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: in this case, the bow is just being brought together 216 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: the limbs um and then when you let go, the 217 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: bow springs back to its original shape, drawing Suddenly the 218 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: string highly taught. You have an arrow attached to that string, 219 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: and it sends that arrow shooting forward at incredible speeds. 220 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: The physics of a bow also apply to the physics 221 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: of a crossbow. Yeah, and if you never thought about it, 222 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: it's it is interesting because it's not a little toy 223 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: string that's elastic string stays the same length. You know, right, 224 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: you're pulling the pulling the limbs together, and then when 225 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: you let go, the limbs go away from you very suddenly. 226 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: The amount of energy of boken hole, Josh, you can 227 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: figure that out. Actually, it's draw weight is the amount 228 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: of force required to draw it back and straw length. 229 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: It's a distance between the bowstrings position at rest and 230 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: when drawn. And the total amount of energy that the 231 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: bow can hold is approximately equal to the draw wait 232 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 1: times draw length divided by two. Yeah. And then usually 233 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: that's that's expressed in um jewels, footpounds or jewels. Yeah, 234 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: I was getting around. No, that's the bow's energy. Um. 235 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: You can also impress a cross bowman by talking about 236 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: the errors velocity, which is measured in feet or meters 237 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: per second. That's right. And a lot of things can 238 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: affect this. Obviously, if you have a long bow, it's 239 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: gonna be more powerful than a short boat because it 240 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: just makes sense. So the size affects it, the shape 241 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: affects it. A recurve bow, which is one of the 242 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: ones I had grown up, is uh, it doesn't just 243 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: come back into you. It comes back into you then 244 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: flares back out away from the other direction. Yeah. Um. 245 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: And at the top end bottom right. And what this 246 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: does is it shortens the bracing height, which is the 247 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: distance between this ring and the bow when it's at rest, 248 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: which means that since that's shorter, when you pull the 249 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: string back and release it, it has a longer distance 250 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: to travel before it comes to a stop, which means 251 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: it gives that arrow or bolt a little extra push. Right. 252 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: And also the recurved bow uh makes the bow even 253 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: string springing ear adds a little spring to it. Step 254 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: composition is another thing, Josh. Density intensil strength determine how 255 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: much energy it holds. And uh, obviously back in the 256 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: day they made him from things like you y e 257 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: w very strong and very elastic. Not you, not you, 258 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: but you. Modern bows a lot a lot of times 259 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: are composite bows, which means, when they need it to 260 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: be rigid, they'll make it out of one material. When 261 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: they need it to be flexible, they'll make it out 262 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: of something else. And then they put it all together 263 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: to make a killing machine, exactly to make a zombie 264 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: killing machine. Uh. And then there are compound bow those 265 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: which I had one of those two. A compound boat 266 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: is uses pulleys, little wheels and pulleys to make it 267 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: easier to pull back and hold once you get it there. 268 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: And that's called the let off once it reaches a 269 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: certain point. Do you ever shot a compoundbo I have? 270 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: And that that sensation of pulling and then all of 271 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: a sudden, there's no resistance like this. Basically this very 272 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: cool was cocked. It's a very cool feeling, like I 273 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: could hold this all day. Not all day, but it 274 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: is very cool. And I had one of those, and 275 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: I had a regular little record alright. Now, my dad 276 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: he gets into phases. He got into a bow and arrow, 277 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: He got into an archery phase and built a thing 278 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: on on our property. And you know, as my dad does, 279 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: he went out and bought like a seven hundred dollar 280 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: compound boat. Yeah yeah, but he bought me like a 281 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: little miniature versions of everything he got. And he was 282 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: a principal at my school, like I've mentioned, so he 283 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: had like, all of a sudden, there was an archery 284 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: program at school, and uh it was fun. Man, I 285 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: shot a lot of arrows growing up. Did you hunt anything? No, 286 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: not a hunter targets. Did you have a crossbow? Uh no, 287 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: never even shot a crossbow. But I had a little 288 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: compound and a little recurve. That's very cool. But after 289 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: this article, I'm dying to shoot a crossbow. Yeah, I 290 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: don't know anybody who has one. I bet, I bet 291 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: bet you do. Is there like a whole like a 292 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: group of people that had crossbowsy, and I'm not familiar. 293 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: I bet Matt Frederick has a crossbow. Man, do you 294 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: have a crossbow? No? He did, never a crossbow. Um, 295 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: he has a laser gun though, the functioning laser gun. 296 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: That will just disintegrate to you. Um, let's talk safety, Chuck. 297 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: In this article, Tracy Um turns into Tommy Lee Jones 298 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: and No Country for Old Man when she says do 299 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: not point when at anything you do not plan to shoot. Yeah. 300 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: I don't like that rule. I think it should be that. 301 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: And you don't point it at anyone period. Okay. I 302 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: was gonna say, like it as an account for just 303 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: goofing around. Yeah, that's that's the what they say with 304 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: every gun is don't point it at someone unless you 305 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: plan to shoot them. But my rule of thumbs, don't 306 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: point it at anyone. Because a crossbow. I looked it 307 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 1: up to see if it was a good home security feature. 308 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 1: It's not your insurance come to be, Like, wait, what 309 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: you wanted us to reduce it because you have a crossbow. 310 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: They make a little pistol ones too, with a little 311 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 1: short had a pistol one, No, he had a bow caster. 312 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: It's like a pistol. Call, it's like a pistol crossbow, right, 313 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: and then it shoots energy. Okay, but it's the shape 314 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: of a crossbow. That's a pistol. I thought it didn't 315 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: have a stock. I thought it was a pistol. Was it. 316 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: Maybe it's just so big it looked like a pistol 317 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: on him. We'll hear about this one for sure. Man. 318 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: Uh safety, Josh, you want to place the stirrup at 319 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: the ground. I don't want to point it at you 320 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: at all, or have a friend hold the stirrup while 321 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: you cock. It's terrible. No, no, no, no, I'm saying, 322 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: do not do that. You do not do that. You 323 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: want to point it to the ground. Put the stirrup 324 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: on the ground. Put your foot in the stirrup. You 325 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: want to brace it very firmly. Sure your foots all 326 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 1: the way in there. Because this is a lot of energy, 327 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 1: potential energy you're building up here. Um. Like I said 328 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: you earlier, you want to grab it, pull it equally 329 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 1: on both sides, lock it into place, and the modern 330 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: crossbow will automatically have a little safety that that happens there, 331 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:24,919 Speaker 1: and there may be an additional safety that you can 332 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 1: set after that, which is good. You um also want 333 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: to stand out of the way of the front of 334 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: the bow. And I'm not just saying in the path 335 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: of the arrow, but that bow. Remember it's stretched towards 336 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: you when this when the string is cocked or when 337 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: the string is pulled back, and when you release it, 338 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 1: the bow flies forward and outward, and if your hands there, 339 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: it's going to smack it and probably break every bone 340 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: in it. And also if you're hunting or you're shooting 341 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: a target from behind a tree, um, you don't want 342 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: the uh the crossbows bow to smack into the tree 343 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: or else is probably going to break the bow. That's right, 344 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 1: it's pricey. And never dry fire. Yeah I didn't. I 345 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: knew that just from common sense. Most types of things 346 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: that you shoot you shouldn't dry fire. But that means 347 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: shooting it without a bolt. But it's made to shoot 348 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: a bolt. It's configured to shoot the weight of a bolt. 349 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: So when you shoot it dry that waits not there, 350 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: so you could potentially break your bolt. And Tracy points 351 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: out that dry firing voids nearly all manufacturers warranties, so 352 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: don't try fire. And again, never go for the extended warranty. 353 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,199 Speaker 1: And if you haven't listened to the Extended Warranty podcast yet, 354 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: should go back and listen to. It's pretty good, really, Yeah, Man, 355 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: I didn't know they were good back then. Yeah, they're good, 356 00:19:47,359 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: all right. Yeah, because we just took this completely boring 357 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: topic and really went to town on it. It was 358 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: a good one, Chuck. The last piece of safety advice 359 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 1: is get a bolt that has rated for your crossbow. Well, yeah, 360 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 1: because you don't want to. You can't just put any 361 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: size and weight in there. It's figured very specifically exactly. 362 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: You can't just say, man, look at that big bolt, 363 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 1: let me put that thing in here. Yeah, so when 364 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 1: the zombie apocalypse comes, you better know what your crossbow 365 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: is rated for. Um, and don't drive on the auto 366 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: bonn in tires that are rated for a lower speed 367 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: than what your car can drive. Things you should know. Uh, 368 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 1: if you want to know more about the Auto bon 369 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: I just change the name of our show, by the 370 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: way you did. If if you want, do you want 371 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: to tell them the real stuff? You should know Okay, 372 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: if you want to know more about the Autobahn, extended warranties, 373 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: and crossbows, you can type any one of those three 374 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: or all three together and see what comes up in 375 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: the handy search bar at how stuff Works dot com 376 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: and uh that means now, friends, it's time for listener mail. Josh. 377 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: This is another soldier shout out work suckers for those 378 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: and the one Norman Torsia to day we mentioned. I 379 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 1: forgot to mention that's the dude that I sent the 380 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: jump drive to. Okay, with every single one of our 381 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: podcast on it. Man, that must have been a huge jump. 382 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:06,439 Speaker 1: It was about as big as my pinky. And you 383 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: know I did it because he asked. You are going 384 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: to be doing that a lot more often now. I 385 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: have a feeling that you have to prove that you're 386 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 1: saving lives and Afghanistan in order to get that. So 387 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: this is from another dude. This is from Sergeant Gabriel Everhard. 388 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: Greetings from Iraq. I'm writing you today from the Center 389 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: of Civilization a k a. The Fertile Crescent, Iraq. I'm 390 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,199 Speaker 1: a combat engineer in the U. S. Army. On my 391 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: second combat tour, I've had the opportunity to have wireless 392 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:38,199 Speaker 1: internet and have been downloading many of your podcasts and 393 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: I listened each evening during the day while on patrol 394 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: and m R A P Mine resistant Armored Patrol em RAP. 395 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: I've heard that these are like hurt locker dudes I 396 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: make I'm not positive. I relayed the plot. I relayed 397 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: the podcast I listened to the night before over the 398 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 1: headset to the guys. It is great for breaking up 399 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: monotony of looking for ied ease. Oh yeah, I guess 400 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: they are hurt look at guys, huh and talking about 401 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: the usual army related stories. My soldiers have learned about 402 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: many interesting things like human cannonballers, schizophrenia, parkour, and con artists. 403 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 1: They especially like the play by play on shrinking human heads. 404 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: I bet they did. Uh. In summary on behalf of 405 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: myself and my soldiers just wanted to extend our thanks 406 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: to both you guys. Sitting in a convoy of vehicles 407 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: with the same dudes for up to twelve hours a day, 408 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: it's kind of like taking a year long road trip, 409 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: but on the same roads. Well, it's sort of like 410 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: a Twilight Zone episode. And guys, in your own way, 411 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: you're both doing great things for your country. I don't 412 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: know about Matt, but I'll take care. So I told 413 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: Gabriel everhart Is Sarge that we would give those guys 414 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: a shout out then the Mason Province of Iraq. So dudes, 415 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 1: if you're listening, we love you. Be safe and come 416 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: home in one piece, seriously, and uh, thanks for everything 417 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: you do. Yeah for slubs like us who just run 418 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: off at the mouth and we're sorry. Out the park 419 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: Core podcast. And if you have a special request, we 420 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: will strongly consider it. He did. Actually I didn't leave 421 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: that part in, but it was about Mesopotamia. I think 422 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: we did that one. It was Mesotamia the Cradle of civilization. 423 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: Well there you go, Yeah and done. If you have 424 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: another one that we haven't done before, send it in 425 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: email chuck back and we'll see what we can do. Uh. 426 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: And if you have a request special request, UM, let 427 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: us know why we should entertain it, what it is, 428 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: and we'll see what we can do. And there's three 429 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: ways you can contact us, aside from saying hi through 430 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 1: our system of campbell, soup cans and string. UM, you 431 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: can tweet to us at s Y s K podcast. UM, 432 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: you can visit us on Facebook, Facebook dot com, slash 433 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: Stuff you Should Know, and you can send us an email. 434 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: It's Stuff podcast at how stuff works dot com. Be 435 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: sure to check out our new YEO podcast, Stuff from 436 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: the Future. Join Housteffwork staff as we explore the most 437 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: promising and perplexing possibilities of tomorrow, brought to you by 438 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: the reinvented two thousand twelve camera. It's ready, are you