Wednesday, April 14, 2010

catenary


In physics and geometry, the catenary is the theoretical shape a hanging chain or cable will assume when supported at its ends and acted on only by its own weight. The curve is a hyperbolic cosine which has a U-like shape, similar in appearance to a parabola.

The word catenary is derived from the Latin word catena, which means "chain".

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talk nineteen to the dozen

  to speak rapidly and without stopping