Tether

A tether is a cord, fixture, or flexible attachment that anchors something movable to a reference point which may be fixed or moving. There are a number of applications for tethers: balloons, kites, tethered wind-energy conversion systems, anchors, tethered water-flow energy conversion systems, towing, animal constraint, spaceflight, and power-kiting. Tethering is also used to prevent the theft of a computer at a school or library.[1]

For other uses, see Tether (disambiguation).

Failures

Tethers may break by various means; if a tether is a signal, then interruption by signal barriers breaks the tether. If the tether is a cord or rope, then upon reaching the breaking strength of the tether, the tether fails in its function. Failure modes for tethers are considered when designing arrangements where a tether is needed.[2] When a tether or line breaks suddenly, backlash of the segments may cause severe damage or loss of life. Safety links are sometimes used to prevent excessive tension in a tether involved in towing objects or persons, like in the towing of sailplanes; the safety link in a tether is thus a tether itself.


See also

References
  1. ed. by Seymour Bosworth (2002). Computer Security Handbook. New York, NY: Wiley. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-471-41258-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Bekey, Ivan (2003). Advanced Space System Concepts and Technologies, 2010-2030+. El Segundo, Calif. : Reston, Va.: Aerospace Press; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-884989-12-4.
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