Research Assignment: Catenaries

1) Use your own words to define catenary.

2) State three examples of real-world applications of a catenary.

3) Identify a typical function used to describe a catenary.

4) Research a structure built using one or more catenaries to learn about the catenary model used in its design. Note that many bridges were once assumed to have cables hung in a catenary, but it is now understood that the shapes are parabolas.

5) Use the model to predict the dimensions of the catenary portion of the structure.

6) Compare your prediction to the actual dimensions of the catenary portion of the structure. If they differ, explain why.

7) Explain the relationship between a catenary and gravity.

8) Create a simple real-world catenary. Hint: Keep it very simple by using a chain or piece of string hanging freely under the force of gravity, which is, suspended.

9) Estimate the catenary function that models it.