Explain potential energy with the help of a bow.

Explanation

1) Take a bamboo stick and make a bow as shown in figure.
2) Place an arrow made of a light stick on it with one end supported by the string of the bow and stretch the string gently and release the arrow.

3) We notice that the arrow gets separated from the bow and falls down on the ground.
4) Now place the arrow on the bow with one end supported by the string, applying more force and release the arrow.
5) We observe that the arrow lies with great speed into the air.
6) From this we can conclude that the bow in normal shape is not able to push the arrow, but when we stretch the string, it acquires energy to throw the arrow into air with great speed.
7) The energy acquired by the bow due to change in its shape is known as its potential energy.