Parabolas in Everyday Life:
1. Stain glass windows in churches
2. The Sydney Opera House in Aussie
3. St. Louis Gateway Arch
Stain glass windows were commonly used to symbolize religious happenings in churches and cathedrals. The windows were decorative and informative and many times were donated by members of the congregation in memory of loved ones. These windows also help to monitor how much light is able to shine into the building. Not all stain glass windows are parabolic but those that are need more attention when being built. One incorrect measurement could cause the glass not to fit properly, or to fit but not sturdily and cause injury. I think this shape is used for more of a decorative aspect and is just more elaborate than the usual rectangular shaped window.
The Sydney Opera House was designed by Jorn Utzon and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October, 20 1973. It conducts 3,000 events each year and has an annual audience of 2 million for its performances. It’s only been open since 1973 but is just as representative of Australia as the pyramids are to Egypt. This building wasn’t purposely built with parabolas in place. Utzon had entered an anonymous competition for an opera house to be built in Australia. Out of about 230 entries his concept was selected. He didn’t even complete the project himself because he left it in the hand of Peter Hall. He along with others completed the interior of the Opera house, but it was all coincidence that it’s shape contained parabolas.
The St. Louis Gateway Arch is the tallest national monument in the US (630 ft). It was completed on October 28, 1965. Each year, about a million visitors ride the trams to the top of the Arch. They’ve been in operation for over 30 years and carried over 25 million passengers. The arch is a catenary curve, meaning if a parabola were rolled along a straight line it would trace out a catenary. The word catenary derives from the latin word for chain. A flexible curve, supported at both ends, that hangs and is acted on by gravity is a catenary. This shape allows for the St. Louis Gateway Arch to be able to move up to 18 inches (wind at 150 mph). It is built to withstand any type of destructive storm.
Links to Pictures:
http://staytondailyphoto.com/photos/stained_glass_church2.jpg
http://www.underthesoutherncross.org/assets/images/australia-sydney-opera-house.jpg
http://www.orgsites.com/mo/stlchristianhomesports/StLouisArch.jpg
1 comment:
Good!
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