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#1 2010-07-31 13:07:56
- bossk171
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catenary
A catenary is the curve:
If you roll a parabola along the x-axis, the focus of the rolling parabola traces out a catenary. I read this a number of places, but I've yet been able to find, or create, a proof.
Can anyone help? Please?
Last edited by bossk171 (2010-07-31 13:08:18)
There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary, those who don't, and those who can use induction.
#2 2010-07-31 14:16:34
- bobbym
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Re: catenary
Hi bossk171;
I read that too and it is cited in at least 4 spots:
http://www.centralillinoiswoodturners.c … 20Form.pdf
http://www.pballew.net/arithme8.html#catenary
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor … Id=6434007
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~his … enary.html
I have been unable to find that proof.
According to this page,
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s … =firefox-a
Maxwell is the discoverer of the proof you are looking for!
Check this out!
http://www.answers.com/topic/roulette-game
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
I am willing to wager that over 75% of the new words that appeared were nothing more than spelling errors that caught on.
#3 2010-07-31 15:39:45
- bobbym
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Re: catenary
Hi;
http://translate.google.com/translate?h … 26prmd%3Db
This page here gives the differential equation for the all the conic sections, yours is on the bottom. The differential equation can used to derive the curve as the focus of the parabola rides on the x axis, it will be found to be a catenary. This derivation is a proof.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
90% of mathematicians do not understand 90% of currently published mathematics.
I am willing to wager that over 75% of the new words that appeared were nothing more than spelling errors that caught on.
#4 2011-07-27 15:39:17
- namealreadychosen
- Member
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Re: catenary
Is the shape of the streamlines formed by a swimming duck a catenary? Is the shape of a supposedly shatterproof (I have broken them) ruler being bent, each end pressed onto my fingertips, a catenary? I know that the shape of a chain held at both ends is a catenary.
#5 2011-07-27 19:36:52
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
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Re: catenary
hi bosk171
would this help?:http://www.proofwiki.org/wiki/Catenary#Proof
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