16.5 x 96.3 x 10.1
Wood
CAT. 1851 : 57.J.VI
Um modelo de arcos de uma ponte - Vai em J.IV. Pertence à mechanica dos solidos.
Model of the arches of a bridge - it goes in J. VI. It pertains to mechanics of solids.
Methods of building arched bridges have been known and used for thousands of years. The Romans made a significant contribution by solving problems of stability, and their solutions were put into practice in the many large structures which still remain standing today.
To teach these techniques, the Gabinete de Física had a model bridge with four arches. Each arch is made up of thirty small blocks, shaped to fit together in such a way that the pressure of their weight is divided between them, preventing the structure from falling. An arch is built using a framework on which each small block is placed one after the other; the framework is taken away when the arch is finished. During building, the model is supported on two pillars which will be the bridge support. The completed bridge is capable of supporting fairly heavy objects, since the additional weight increases the pressure between the blocks, so increasing stability.
The model was made in London by E.M. Clarke.