Extra Links
(Many of the pictures below have been reduced to fit into a standard browser. You can view the larger version by simply removing the "sm" in the file name, just before the .jpg extension. In some other cases, a larger version can be obtained by clicking on the photo.)
- You can move through a series of photos of a crane removing a car from the sea at
Tipping Lifts. The photos have been floating around the physics cyberspace for a while and appear to be from Ireland. (Note the disclaimer on the last set of pictures.)
Funicular Train
Below are a few pics I took during a trip to Switzerland some years ago. They are pictures of the funicular train that provides access to the remote village of Mürren.
- Access to Mürren. This gives you an idea of the steepness of the hillside.
- This is steep? This picture is taken from a hiking trail. You can see that the angle of the funicular track here is about 30o from the horizontal. From the side, this does not appear to be so steep. But it is. Consider that the steepest road incline to be found (including here in the VI) is about 15o. Most cars simply can't climb 30o slopes.
- Switching area 1. There is one cable attached to both cars. One car is always going up when the other is coming down ... a simple counterbalance technique. There is only one track, except at the center, where a switching area allows the cars to pass by one another.
- Switching area 2. Look at the cable. What you see is connected to car from which the picture was taken. Can you determine which way is up the incline from this picture?
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Canal Houses
The Canal Houses of Amsterdam page from the SCI 301 site describes some of the building techniques unique to the "lowland" countries. You can click on the pictures for a full size views.
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Rod & Wire Sculpture
The following pictures are of a steel wire and rod sculpture located at the Kroller Muller Museum just outside Arnhem, Nederlands. The remarkable feature of this sculpture is that is held together by the tension in the wires. None of the steel rods are directly connected to one another. For a real challenge, try this with popsicle sticks and string.
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Windmill
Below are some shots of working wooden windmill, just north of Amsterdam. The windmill rolls a huge grinding stone that crushes flaxseed to extract the oil. It is not just a tourist spot, but a commercially viable business run entirely from wind energy.
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Entropy
Check out Dave Slaven's fun and informative Page of Entropy.
