Why is it that when we fix the two ends of a rope and let gravity act, the rope forms a curve that looks like a parabola?
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The actual curve is called a **caternary**, and is not quite the same as a parabola. I am pretty sure we did the derivation of a caternary in some class at university – either Calculus or Vectorial Mechanics. The shape is defined by the force of gravity on the cable and the tangential tension forces within the cable.
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