A catenary is a natural curve formed by two poles supporting a free-moving object, with applications in architecture and design. It forms a self-contained arch and is used in suspension bridges. Physicists, philosophers, and mathematicians have studied it for centuries. Catenary cables are used in power lines for transportation systems.
A catenary is a natural curve that forms when two poles support a free-moving object such as a chain or cable. While this is often described through complex mathematical formulas, it has several applications in real-world architecture and design. When the shape is reversed, it forms a perfect self-contained arch. The basic shape is also the underlying structure used in suspension bridges. Also, a catenary cable is the name for a type of power line that supplies bulk power to transportation systems.
The catenary curve is a shape that is generally well known to most people. When two fixed or rigid posts hold unridged material between them, gravity pulls the non-rigid material down and forms a curve. This curve, or inverted arc, is a catenary.
You can find these bows almost everywhere. They are common in any public place where a simple rope is used to prevent people from passing. Clothes lines, power lines, even the cord between a handset and the base of a corded phone make any of these shapes. Natural shapes such as cobwebs, cobwebs, and some types of vines also form catenaries.
Physicists, philosophers and mathematicians have studied the shape of the catenary for hundreds of years. These studies have yielded many interesting facts about the methods used to create the shape. In some cases, these methods can be applied to real world architecture to create real structures.
The catenary arch is an inverted version of the curve and is one of the perfect forms of architecture. If the bow has no additional weight or stress, it will not produce excessive shear or pressure on its building materials. This means that the bow will stand on its own indefinitely without maintenance or outside assistance.
The support cables of a suspension bridge generally begin with a catenary shape, but move away from it as the bridge is built. The cables that hang between the bridge towers are tied to the bed of the structure. This creates an additional downward force on the cables, distorting the catenary design and turning the shape into a parabola. On the other hand, a simple rope bridge typically holds the shape of the catenary naturally.
Power lines that supply bulk power directly to transportation systems are called catenary lines in different parts of the world. While the line itself bears the name, it gets its name from the shape. These lines travel from a pole up to a power delivery system, creating the iconic curve.
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