exploratorium Structures Around the World

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An Arch Made From a Chain

1-How to build it

It is enough to read the instructions and to follow them carefully. Then you need to make sure that the blocks are well aligned and put in numerical order. The blocks need to be quite tight, it is also very important that they are flat on the support on which the arch is made.

2-Can you explain their construction?

Yes, because it is necessary to put the blocks vertically, to raise the shelf carefully, and then to rest it to check if the arch remains in balance.

3-Why does it hold?

It holds because the blocks are vertical at the base, thus they hold the weight of the other blocks.