Question

1.
describe how the energy changes in the picture above when the person lets go. make sure to use kinetic and potential energy in your answer.

Explanation:

When the person holds the bow drawn, the bow has elastic potential energy (stored due to deformation). When they let go, the bow’s elastic potential energy is converted into the arrow’s kinetic energy (energy of motion) as the arrow is launched. So potential energy (of the bow) decreases, and kinetic energy (of the arrow) increases.

Answer:

When the person lets go, the drawn bow (with elastic potential energy due to its deformed state) transfers energy: the bow’s elastic potential energy decreases as it is converted into the arrow’s kinetic energy (energy of the arrow’s motion) as the arrow is launched.