Hello.

It's been over 30 years since my days at the university and have trouble thinking...

I believe a catenary reflector has a focal area -locus?- instead of a focus point as a parabolic reflector has.

 

Is it a circle ?

 

The intention is to place a pipe of the same section at the locus of a catenary reflector trough, to be insolated and boil water circulating in it.

The center of the locus must be centered between the ends of the catenary.

The catenary lenght is 4 feet.

What would be the correct catenary span or depth?

 

Thanks,

Miguel

catenary means shaped like a cosh curve (hyperbolic trig function) It is the shape adopted by a freely hanging chain in uniform gravitational field.

Hi Matt.

That has nothing to do with my question.

 

What is the shape of the focus on a catenary reflector? It should not be a point.

Is it a line, is it a circle, or...?

Miguel

apologies, then. can i suggest "wolfram locus points" and google?