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Re: [Phys-l] nifty question



... and then, of course, there is the modification that actually makes the problem a lot easier:

Push or pull anywhere, in any direction. Allow the cable to slide, or not.

John Mallinckrodt
Cal Poly Pomona

On Sep 23, 2010, at 7:58 AM, curtis osterhoudt wrote:

I'd like to propose a tiny modification to Carl's puzzle, one which (I think)
makes it a lot harder:

Pull up in the center, instead of down. Whether you let the cable slide
side-to-side at the point of pulling is up to you.



/**************************************
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________________________________
From: Carl Mungan <mungan@usna.edu>
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Sent: Wed, September 22, 2010 8:56:38 AM
Subject: [Phys-l] nifty question

I've been thinking lately about hanging cables. I came across the
following neat question (which has a simple answer).

Consider an ideal (ie. cannot stretch, and can bend freely) cable
suspended from two points of equal height (that are closer together
than the cable's length). The cable adopts the shape of a catenary
(hyperbolic cosine).

Now suppose you hang a weight from the center of the cable. Does the
cable's center of mass move up, down, or remain at the same height?

Have fun thinking about it! If you see the simple solution, don't
give it away too quickly! -Carl
--
Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics 410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-1363
mailto:mungan@usna.edu http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l