Encyclopedia > Catenary

  Article Content

Catenary

1. In mathematics, a catenary curve is the curve made by a chain suspended between two points, supporting a constant weight per length. It is the graph of:

y = cosh x

This is not the same as the curve made by a chain supporting a constant weight per horizontal length, as in a suspension bridge; that is a parabola.

2. A catenary structure consists of an overhead cable or cables used to deliver electricity to a railway locomotive, tram or trolleybus.

See also: Pantograph, Locomotive



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Islip Terrace, New York

... of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 5,641 people, 1,755 households, and 1,463 families residing ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 22.8 ms