The document discusses how parabolic shapes help carry forces in suspension bridges by distributing them to the towers. It also explains how parabolic motion occurs due to gravity, with Galileo discovering that all thrown objects follow a parabolic path. Finally, it notes that parabolic reflectors can concentrate heat or sound by reflecting parallel rays to a focus.

1. By
Nihaad

2. The parabolic shape of the cables along suspension
bridges help carry the forces acting on the bridge
to the top of the towers (which can usually stand
flexing, buckling, and oscillation)

3.  Everything on the planet Earth is subject to
gravity. When on object is thrown or forced
in a direction not on the ground, eventually
gravity grabs it and drags it down. The
path the object follows it that of a
Parabola.

4. Galileo found that all objects thrown form a parabolic
path, no matter what. He deduced this by the simple
observation of watching objects being thrown. Galileo
is responsible for the modern concepts of velocity and
acceleration to explain projectile motion that is
studied today:
A projectile which is carried by a uniform horizontal motion
compounded with a naturally accelerated vertical motion
describes a path which is a semi-parabola.

5.  Heaters are sold which make use of the
relection property of the parabola. The
heat source is at the focus and heat is
concentrated in parallel rays.

6.  A person who whispers at
the focus of one of the
parabolic reflectors can be
heard by a person located
near the focus of the
other parabola.