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[ATM] Off-Topic: String Theory
My friend George has a problem. He plans to build a hinged frame
A-B-C-D with diagonals AC and BD. The sides will be one meter.
Obviously the frame will be "floppy" and will not hold its desired
square shape. To stabilize the frame, George plans to run a single
string A-C-B-D, anchored at A and D, and with frictionless slides at B
and C so that all of the wire is under the same tension.
George thinks this is a great idea because all you have to do to
stiffen the whole frame is use a single tensioner like a guitar head.
There is no need to mess with separate tensioners for separate
strings.
George has grand vision of all kinds of giant self-erecting
structures: airships, sailboat rigging, bridges, domed sports
stadiums, and even giant space colonies, and is about to contact his
patent attorney.
But he is all bushed, trying to sort out the details, and has axed me
to have you advise him. As soon as he works out the details for the
square frame, his first project using this principle will be a
telescope truss. He needs this because he expects to be unemployed
in the near future.
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