ORIGINAL: GMMAT
I see what you're saying......but we're not talking about a blunt ended object. The BH has already created a path for the rest of the mass to push it through. Much like a tent stake that was projected through the air. If you could get the tent stake (or conical sphere) to fly mass end to the rear ......which way would you want it to strike the object you were trying to penetrate?
Interesting conversation.
I understand what you are thinking (I think
)....but all objects obey the same laws. Arrows, because of what you identified, would notice less of an affect (proportionally) than a baseball bat, but it would still have some affect. That BH will meet resistance of some kind (say a rib) and the closer to the front an arrow's center of mass is (ie high FOC), the less an arrow is likely to twist sideways when the BH hits said rib.
The center of mass may be 13 inches behind the BH....or the center of mass might be 8 inches behind it. Visualizing, it takes less force (from hitting that rib), proportionally, to 'tip' the arrow sideways and hence slow it down. Hopefully I am making sense...
Most arrows from todays setups will blow through regardless because they have so much momentum....but if you want to really maximize penitration...this makes a difference.