Page 90 - How It Works - Book of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, 12

� AMAZIG ANSWERS TO CURIOUS QUESTIONS ------------------

What's

How did the Samurai in the

mal<e their swords?

What makes samurai weapons so tough? Statue of

amurai don't just see their swords as carbon is distributed evenly throughout
beautifully crafted weapons, they the blade.
The blade cannot simply be thrust into
S actually believe the sword embodies quickly would make it brittle upon contact Liberty?
their soul. And so the process of creating cold water to harden as cooling it too
such a treasured piece of kit is a measured
and intricate one. The swords are made with an unfortunate combatant.
using a high-quality steel known as Conversely, cooling it too slowly would
tamahagane, which is repeatedly heated, make it soft and blunt. So samurai The Statue of Liberty was officially
hammered flat and then folded. The swordsmiths developed a method of titled 'Liberty Enlightening the
sword-maker will repeat this technique optimum cooling for maximum strength.
until he is happy with the result. A thin layerofclaylmade of ash, water and World' .It was built as a monument
There are several reasons behind this clay) was applied to the cutting edge of the commemorating the centenary of
repetitive action. One is to eliminate any sword keeping it hard and sharp, while a
blade-weakening air bubbles that get into thicker layer was painted onto the back of the Declaration of Independence
the steel during the heating process. Also, the sword making it supple and
the process creates layers in the metal, shatterproof. With two edges cooling at ((l c onstructed by the French, the Statue of Liberty was
which adds to the blade's strength. Not different rates, the sword gets a distinctive )) designed as a colossal copper statue. Gustave Eiffel,
only this, but it also ensures that the curvature. A piece of art and an incredibly (\. the designer of the Eiffel Tower, was asked to build a
natural strengthening property in the deadly weapon. 0 OJ massive iron pylon and a skeletal framework to act as the
support for the sculpture. While remaining fixed to its steel
------------------------- �� ------------------------ frame, the structure was able to move in the wind­
subsequently, wind speeds of 50 miles per hour have been
How do zips unzip? recorded, and the statue has been known to sway up to
three inches under pressure.
The pedestal, crafted from Scottish sandstone, was built
in the USA. Once this was erected, it was time to assemble
Discover the invention that took the the statue proper. Parts of the statue were shipped from
textiles industry by storm France. They arrived in 350 pieces and were packed into 214
crates. lt took four months to assemble the statue and secure
here are two main types of zip In contrast, metallic zippers, which are it on the pedestal.
fastener-the coil and the metallic. largely found on jeans, suitcases and The pedestal is supported by two sets of iron girders
T Coil zippers are the more heavy-duty overalls, do not have coiled which are connected
traditional variety found on garments teeth. Instead, they have individual pieces by iron tie beams­
worldwide, and make up the bulk of zipper of metal made from aluminium and these extend
sales. Coil zippers work by weaving two nickel, moulded into an interlocking upwards into the
coils, one in spiral shape and set on the framework of the
form and one in fabric at regular statue creating a
ladder form, to either intervals. The strong link from the
side of two pieces of metallic zipper's ground. The Statue
fabric. The twin coils slider then forces the of Liberty was
are then interwoven individual teeth originally designed
by a slider- the small together to form a as a lighthouse and
tab that you pull up solid chain. Metallic functioned as such
and down-which zippers offer greater from 1886 to 1902. It
forces the ladder separation housed an electric
side to hook to the resistance than coil lightthat could be
coil side, inter­ varieties, but cost seen several miles
locking them. more to make. out to sea.

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