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Where can I buy a large pendulum, so I can watch the plane of oscillation change as the earth rotates?
It would, of course, need to be efficient enough to keep going for a few days, and be able to swing in 2 dimensions.
Thanks, Luke
Thanks, Luke
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Any pendulum can show the earth's rotation as long as it's massive enough not to be significantly affected by air currents. The Foucault pendulums on display in museums also incorporate an electromagnet which turns on and off as the pendulum swings; this compensates for friction without affecting the direction of the pendulum's swing.
See the sources below for more information on the design of Foucault pendulums. Kits are commercially available; a pendulum kit with a 235-pound ball, magnetic drive, suspension cables (suggested length 50 feet), control unit, and accessories sells for $34,750 plus shipping. However, it should be possible for someone with engineering know-how to build a smaller, less accurate, but still functional pendulum for a lot less money.
See the sources below for more information on the design of Foucault pendulums. Kits are commercially available; a pendulum kit with a 235-pound ball, magnetic drive, suspension cables (suggested length 50 feet), control unit, and accessories sells for $34,750 plus shipping. However, it should be possible for someone with engineering know-how to build a smaller, less accurate, but still functional pendulum for a lot less money.
source(s):
http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/index.html
http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/pendspec.pdf
http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/index.html
http://www.calacademy.org/products/pendulum/pendspec.pdf
Voted as best: kareul
You can buy a reasonably affordable Foucault pendulum at http://wardsci.com/product.asp?pn=IG0004028&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Google-_-NULL-_-808220&mr:trackingCode=826D975B-6581-DE11-8C0A-000423C27502&mr:referralID=NA&bhcd2=1257869834 or http://sciencekit.com/coriolis-effect-and-foucault-pendulum-set/p/IG0023028/ .
Check out http://itotd.com/articles/362/foucaults-pendulum/ and http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/jw/foucault_pendulum.html for some history and explanation of Foucault's original work on pendulums.
Check out http://itotd.com/articles/362/foucaults-pendulum/ and http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au/jw/foucault_pendulum.html for some history and explanation of Foucault's original work on pendulums.
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