system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is dry firing a bow so harmful but adding an arrow makes it safe?

How does adding an arrow change the weight?
gpt
Normally, the potential energy stored in the bow by the action of pulling back the string is all applied to the arrow you shoot.

If you release the string with no arrow to receive all the hullabaloo, this energy is instead transferred to the bow itself, which cam be enough to break or shatter it, causing splinters in the eye or even a cut up hand or arm.