Foucault Pendulum

The Foucault pendulum is located in the lobby of the Herzberg Building on the second level.

Can you calculate the length of Carleton University Foucault pendulum based on its period of oscillation?

For a simple pendulum (massive bob attached to a pivot point with a piece of string), the period of oscillation (T) can be found using the following equation:

Equation for the Period of the pendulum

where L is the length of the pendulum and g is the gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2). If you measure the period of oscillation (the time it takes to go back AND forth), you can solve for L.

Go ahead and try to calculate the length yourself. Did you get close to the answer?

foucault pendulum physics carleton

 

The following also features some Physics department history and has some interesting links at the bottom of the page:

History of the Foucault Pendulum at Carleton University

Wikipedia entry for the Foucault pendulum

Wikipedia list of Foucault pendulums

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