Parts of a Cathedral
What part covers the building and transfers its weight to the walls?
Roof assembly
What force pulls the structure downward?
The Force of Gravity
An outer buttress is removed
The structure could spread outward and collapse
Name one way cathedrals benefit communities
They increase tourism, and preserve art and history
What did our cathedral sit on to grip the base?
The wool mat
What is the center space and passageway of a cathedral?
Nave
What is a compression force
A squeezing force that pushes materials together
The friction mat underneath our cathedral is removed
It would decrease the friction and allow it to have a greater chance of collapsing
How can tourism associated with cathedrals help nearby businesses
Visitors spend money at shops, restaurants, and hotels.
What is the curved ceiling in our model called?
Vaulted ceiling
What two parts carry loads toward the ground?
Walls and piers
What force makes the arch want to spread the walls apart?
Outward push
A flyer is removed
The outward push isn’t passed to the buttress, so the walls could spread or lean
Besides worship, what two things do cathedrals preserve?
History and art
Which part of our model resists the arch’s outward push?
Buttresses
What angled support transfers forces from the walls outward?
Flyer
What force does the mat provide to stop the base from sliding?
Friction
The piers are removed
The structure could collapse
Why is maintaining a cathedral better than demolishing it?
It reduces demolition waste and the need for new building materials
Which parts of the model are being squeezed together?
Piers and columns (compression)
Which two parts work together to resist the vault’s outward push?
Flyer and buttress
What two forces does a vaulted ceiling put on its supports?
Downward load and outward push
Both the buttresses and the mat are removed
It would collapse
Name one environmental harm from collecting and transporting building materials.
Energy use, pollution, or destroying wildlife habitats
Explain how a flying buttress resists an outward push.
The flyer carries the push from the vault to the strong outer buttress, which resists it