Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 7 - Think and Explain - Page 129-130: 61

Answer

Overestimate.

Work Step by Step

If one calculated it this way, the PE would be larger than its actual value. The more the bow is bent, the larger the force that Tenny must apply. So the force she applied while drawing the bow is always between zero and the maximum value. One should not calculate the work done by using the maximum force multiplied by distance, because that would be an overestimate. It makes sense to use the average force instead.
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