Physics and Art - Essay Example

It originated in Abbey Church of St. Denis in Paris as a vision of Abbot Suger. He wanted to create a physical representation of Heavenly Jerusalem. It is characterized by gothic arches, ribbed vaults, clustered columns, and flying buttresses. This style is usually associated with cathedrals and churches. The gothic arch, characterized by a tendency to form a point at its apex and typically even jointed, symbolizes an admiration to heaven, and it channels the weight onto the bearing piers or columns at a steep angle, thus making the structure stronger.

Examples of this can be found in the central large window of the following image as well as in the two smaller windows high up on on the towers. The ribbed vaults are used to roof irregular shapes. These are usually seen in areas spanning windows of many structures but were also used to support heavy roofing material in larger sized rooms without the need for as many interior columns. These styles were adopted by different countries like Portugal, France, Spain, & England. Big Ben is one of London’s famous structures.

At night, the clock face of the tower is illuminated, creating an amazing view to everybody looking at it. As the following image shows, the clock faces are designed based on the Arts and Crafts movement with its emphasis on the stained glass construction. This design also enables some of the face pieces to be removed for the inspection of the hands.The faces are set in iron framework with the surround of the dials and the inner face heavily gilded. They are approximately 21 feet in diameter.

Big Ben does not refer to the clock itself, but to a bell hung within that clock. It has a 9-0" diameter, is 7-6" high, and weighs 13 tons 10 cwts 3 qtrs 15lbs (13,760 Kg). It is the most famous bell ever cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry only a few miles away from Westminster Tower. Look to the photo to the right for a concept of the scale of the great