101

OF THE

CATENARY.

1. Catenary, or Catenaria, is the namegiven to the curve formed by a flexiblestring, i-ope, or chain, hanging freely, bythe power of gravity from any two pointsof suspension, as ACB.

2. If the string, rope, or chain, be ofuniform density and thickness, the curve itforms is called the simple or common cate-nary ; and is that treated of in this section.

3. The lowest point (C) in the curve istermed the vertex or apex , and a straight

h 3