Re: Big Ben...

[Brad Shue <jshue@comp.uark.edu>]

On Sat, 28 Sep 1996, Delissa Souder wrote:
> pennies on it.  By adding or subtracting pennies on the bob of the 
> pendulum, they could adjust the period of the pendulum.  How is this so?  
> I've always thought the period of the pendulum is independent of its mass.

A clock pendulum is not a "simple pendulum", it is a "physical pendulum".
It also does not swing freely because it must drive a mechanism and is
kept swinging by a push from the mechanism.  By adding pennies, you change
the moment of the pendulum which will change the period because of the
complexities introduced by the external mechanism.
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James Bradford Shue                             jshue@comp.uark.edu
University of Arkansas                          Voice phone:(501) 575-6059
Physics Lab/Demo Curator                        FAX Number: (501) 575-4580
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