Eli5 How does stored energy work? Especially when it comes to differing materials.

Question

I’m reading an explanation of why composite bows were so much more powerful than the wooden bows before them because the animal horn and sinew “stored far more energy.”

I think this is that lesson in physics that I never fully understood and only passed because I memorized basic terms.

In: Physics

Answer 1

Another reason is the recurve shape of the bow. The recurve shape is more efficient in energy transfer.