BENDING

, the reducing a body to a curved or crooked form. The bending of boards, planks, &c, is effected by means of heat, whether by boiling or otherwise, by which their fibres are so relaxed that they may be bent into any figure. Bernoulli has a discourse on the bending of springs, or elastic bodies. And Amontons gives several experiments concerning the bending of ropes. The friction of a rope bent or wound about an immoveable cylinder, is sufficient, with a very small power, to sustain very great weights.

BERENICE's Hair; see Coma Berenices.