Applied Mechanics - Engineering

Q1:

The shape of a suspended cable under its own weight, is

A parabolic

B circular

C catenary

D elliptical.

ANS:C - catenary

Catenary, in mathematics, a curve that describes the shape of a flexible hanging chain or cable"the name derives from the Latin catenaria ("chain"). Any freely hanging cable or string assumes this shape, also called a chainette, if the body is of uniform mass per unit of length and is acted upon solely by gravity.