The true catenaryHrovatič, Tjaša (Avtor) Hinz, Andreas (Mentor) Milutinović, Uroš (Komentor) Catenarycalculus of variationsEuler-Lagrange equationcurvaturepotential energydifffferential equation.In this thesis we introduce the problem of the ideal homogeneous hanging cable called the catenary. We observe the behaviour of the shape of the curve. Firstly, we solve the problem of the classical catenary on a flfat Earth, where the gravitational fifield is constant and perpendicular to the ground. Secondly, we focus on the true symmetric catenary in the central gravitational fifield, which comes from the -1/r potential. In both cases we use the method of calculus of variations for isoperimetric problems and in particular the Euler-Lagrange difffferential equation. Lastly, we explain the problem of the asymmetric case. [T. Hrovatič]20132013-09-10 15:41:28Diplomsko delo42050sl