I don't think the inertial effects apply greatly here in regards to a free flying object moving within an air mass. There could be some consideration, but the arrows accelleration is almost instantaneous out of the bow to the top velocity for that given setup. The drift on a piper cub is the same as it is on a 747 in a given period of time given no course correction. I think where the confusion lies is that a cork and a barrel have a certain amount of displacement because they float. But if both items were submerged in the water they would drift at the same constant rate of the water flow(current); the same as what happens in the air. In the military we used to use computations in the air sea rescue business where we would compute drift considering currents like the Gulfstream, the wind component factoring in the size of the vessel, its freeboard and such to establish our search areas over day periods of time from a best estimate of the last know position. I think the major factors for amount of drift in archery are the speed of the arrow equating to time airborne, and the geometry (drag) of the arrow which factors the amount of weathervaning during its short flight.

Edited by - FLHunter on 01/09/2002 09:34:49