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Roman Arch Instructions and Applications

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Roman Arch Instructions and Applications ©2008 - v 4/08 611-0350 (40-500) Roman Arch Instructions and Applications aware of it although they rarely n m used it because their architectural style did not require horizontal forces and buttresses. The arch was limited to bridges and tombs l l where earth provided the needed buttress. Roman Arch Warranty and Parts: Use of the arch and vault in force to one side, away from We replace all defective or missing architecture stems from people to the keystone. The blocks are so parts free of charge. Additional replace- the north of Rome known as the ment parts may be ordered toll-free. We angled that the lowest remain- Etruscans. They were unique at accept MasterCard, Visa, checks and ing block exerts force downward School P.O.s. All products warranted to the time in their use of the arch, toward the ground. The entire be free from defect for 90 days. Does which was adopted by Roman structure is so stable that mortar, not apply to accident, misuse or normal architects and greatly improved. wear and tear. Intended for children 13 while often used, was not needed. years of age and up. This item is not a The diagrams below show The Catenary Arch is the toy. It may contain small parts that can three different types of arches. shape that forms when you hold be choking hazards. Adult supervision The corbeled arch (false arch) is required. consists of layers of bricks or a piece of chain at both ends and Description: stones each projecting a little allow it to sag into its natural This set of 23 blocks is beyond the brick or stone beneath shape. This type of arch permits shaped to duplicate the construc- it until they meet at the top in a the building of dams and vaults tion of the Roman Arch. It gives triangular pattern. The weight with thinner sections. All the a concrete demonstration of of the building material holds horizontal force is applied at the action of various forces and this “arch” in place regardless of the base and the arch supports explains why some structures are whether mortar is used. All force no vertical loads other than the more stable than others. When is exerted downward. weight of its own blocks. correctly positioned, these This arch may be used for blocks will support weights a roof but not a bridge due to many times greater than that of l its relative lack of strength and the block set with no glue or stability. mortar. Included is a buttress to hold the blocks in place and to provide the sideways force needed to keep the structure Corbeled Arch. Force exerts downwards. rigid. Historical Background: The Roman Arch (rounded The Romans did not invent arch) consists of wedge-shaped the idea of the arch that bears blocks cut at specific varying angles. The central block is their name. Other cultures in Af- Catenary Arch rica and Asia developed the arch called the keystone and is the es- long before Rome’s founding. sential feature. (Please note: Science First® The Egyptians and Greeks were The keystone exerts force in manufactures a catenary arch two directions, in equal parts to block set with 13 precision Visit us at the blocks on either side of it. blocks: 40-505. Call or check our www.sciencefirst.com Each subsequent block exerts website for more information.) SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2008 - v 4/08 Full-size template showing correct placement of blocks. How To Build the Roman Arch: 1. Base and buttresses come assembled and create a frame for the Roman Arch blocks. Lay the base and buttress on their side on a flat surface, such as a table. 2. As you can see, your arch is already con- structed inside our shipping box. With only six different shapes and twenty- three blocks in all, will assembling it be a snap? Remove the blocks and try your hand at it, laying the blocks down upon the flat surface and inside the framework created by the base and buttress. • Put the keystone block in last. • Use the template if help is needed. 3. When assembled, stand the arch upright by turning the base perpendicular to table. 4. The arch is now stable enough to support your weight! SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2008 - v 4/08 How to Teach With Roman Arch: Concepts: Force as vector. Vector resolution. Component forces; resultant and equilibriant. equi- librium. Curriculum Fit: Physics Sequence; Motion & Force. Unit: Causes of Motion - vector addition & resolution. Grades 9-12. Concepts: Basic notions of equilibrium; hori- zontal, vertical components of forces. Resultant and equilibriant; equilibrizing applied force components - action of the keystone and arch blocks. Curriculum Fit: Physics Sequence; Motion & Force. Unit; Equilibrium. Grades 6-8. Concepts: Arch structures - roman, corbeled, catenary. Curriculum Fit: Technology/vocational prepa- ration (building engineering) Grades 11-12. SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] SCIENCE FIRST® | 86475 Gene Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097 | 800-875-3214 | www.sciencefirst.com | [email protected] ©2008 - v 4/08 A Aqueducts and Vaults: How Romans Built the Arch: B Construction with no mor- The arch could be made of l l tar is typified by the aqueduct stone, bricks or concrete. The C in Segovia, Spain. Skill alone Romans had a good source of l keystone joins the tons of granite blocks, concrete and liked to case the many of which were drilled arch in this material. n for insertion of iron pegs to aid D To erect an arch, the builder transportation of the blocks and first set up a scaffold, called to hold scaffolding in place. This centering. This scaffold had an aqueduct still stands and func- upper surface that matched the tions after 17 centuries. inner surface of the arch and The widescale construction of was used to hold up the wedge- aqueducts, following Rome’s for- shaped stones or bricks until mation of a republic, that resulted they were all in place. When the in the mastery of the freestanding centering was removed, the arch arch that now bears the name. remained, held together by side- The semicircular arches used in ways forces. Concrete required aqueducts and bridges must be a heavy scaffold due to the great exactly half as high as its span is weight of wet cement. wide. If the span is enlarged, so must be its height. The result is Theory: forces applied in the opposite that a bridge can become much A vertical force applied to an direction by buttresses. Other- higher in the center than at the arch generates a horizontal force. wise the arch spreads sidewise at two ends. The Romans built The diagram below depicts the base and collapses. A simple some original single-arched different forces involved in a experiment will illustrate the bridges with stairs at either end. structure of this type. need for horizontal support. Test The original arches were just When Force A (defined as the strength of the arch when round tops to the openings in force at point A) is applied to all blocks are in place and again walls. It was learned, however, keystone block, it produces two when one or two rectangular that arches could be used as inde- other forces perpendicular to the blocks are removed. pendent units supported on piers block forces Z1 and Z2. Each of or columns. these forces can be resolved into If an arch is prolonged on horizontal Force X and vertical Related Product: its central axis, it becomes a Force Y. X in the diagram is four 611-0355 Catenary Arch -An vault. The Romans sometimes times the vertical force and is ideal companion for the Roman Arch, these thirteen hardwood blocks help used semicircular vaults to roof represented by line X, four times their huge public buildings. With you understand the structural strength longer than line Y. A one-pound of a catenary arch. A catenary arch is vaulting, much larger rooms vertical force at point A, there- the curve formed by a heavy, perfectly could be built with halls 80 or 90 fore, generates two pounds of flexible cord, cable or chain hanging feet wide. Two vaults could also from two fixed points not in the same horizontal force to the left and vertical line, acted on solely by gravity. cross at right angles and the re- two pounds horizontal force to sult would remain stable. In this While the mathematical workup may be the right. complicated, the basic shape needn’t be. way, the roof over a large square Force B generates a smaller Especially with a kit that doubles as a area could be supported solely by “toy” - see how fast you can assemble it horizontal force than A. Force C piers or columns at the corners. without the full-size template! is smaller yet. At point D, Force D is zero and cannot be resolved into both vertical and horizontal P/N 24-40500 ©Science First®/ Morris & Lee Inc. components. Science First® is a registered trademark Visit us at These horizontal forces must of Morris & Lee Inc.
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