Which type of bow has straight limbs that form an arc when strung?

Which type of bow has straight limbs that form an arc when strung?

• A. Longbow
• B. Recurve Bow
• C. Short Bow
• D. Compound Bow

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how the limbs of a bow flex when you draw the string. A longbow has straight, relatively uniform limbs that bend into a smooth arc once the string is drawn. This simple, straight-limb design means the bow’s profile is basically straight when unstrung and becomes curved as you pull the string. In contrast, a recurve bow’s limbs are shaped to curve away from the riser even when unstrung, so they’re not straight to begin with. A compound bow uses cables and pulleys, giving a more complex, engineered limb geometry rather than straight limbs that simply arc when drawn. A short bow can resemble a longbow in form, but the defining point for this description is the straight limbs that form an arc only after stringing, which points to the longbow.

The key idea here is how the limbs of a bow flex when you draw the string. A longbow has straight, relatively uniform limbs that bend into a smooth arc once the string is drawn. This simple, straight-limb design means the bow’s profile is basically straight when unstrung and becomes curved as you pull the string.

In contrast, a recurve bow’s limbs are shaped to curve away from the riser even when unstrung, so they’re not straight to begin with. A compound bow uses cables and pulleys, giving a more complex, engineered limb geometry rather than straight limbs that simply arc when drawn. A short bow can resemble a longbow in form, but the defining point for this description is the straight limbs that form an arc only after stringing, which points to the longbow.