The Catenary Curve
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The Catenary Curve Equation

Catenary Curves


St. Louis's Gateway Arch is an amazing monument. It's form and grace is exceptional. The shape the arch follows is a catenary curve. A caternary curve is the shape a chain would take if allowed to hang in two fixed points (such as your hands). However, the arch is an inverted which makes it difficult to understand how the monument stands.


Because of this it's shape and design must be such that it can support its weight and not topple over. The equations and measurements used in building the arch to fit a catenary curve had to be exact, and they were. It is said that if the centermost section of the arch were removed the two remaining pieces would still be able to stand alone. The theory behind the caternary curved played a big role in how the arch had to be constructed in order for it to stand properly. In the construction section you can see just how that was accomplished.