A pendulum consists of a stick or string that has a weight attached to its end, often called a bob. A pendulum pursues the law of falling objects in which the gravity force pulls the pendulum toward the Earth. If the pendulum is pulled to one side and released, the bob will create a swinging motion because of gravity. The force of inertia will make it continue to swing at a consistent rate.
Clocks
Since the early 16th century, pendulums have been used to measure time. Initially, their accuracy was not perfect, as they created a difference of 15 minutes each day. It was only in 1656, when Dutch scientist Christian Huygens built the first pendulum clock that increased the accuracy from 15 minutes a day to 15 seconds a day. The back-and-forth movement of the pendulum moves a gear one notch, moving the clock's hands. The increase in time accuracy resulted in the spread of pendulum clocks all over the Europe.
Building Demolitions
The application of pendulum motion can be observed in a wrecking ball that is used to demolish buildings. The wrecking ball swings in a pendulum motion with the help of a crane, and the giant ball is slammed into the building that is supposed to be taken down. When the giant ball swings in one direction, it stores energy and releases that energy upon hitting the building.
Observing Earth's Rotation
In 1848, Jean Foucault observed and revealed that when a large pendulum swings for a lengthy period of time, it looks to be changing direction throughout the day. In reality, the pendulum does not change its direction, rather it is the Earth that rotates. This observation led to the creation of Foucault pendulum that represents the rotation of the Earth. The Foucault pendulum is often several stories high, as it must swing for longer periods in order to observe the Earth's rotation.
Pendulums in Religions
Pendulum motion can also be observed in the ceremonies of various religions. Scientist and astrologer Galileo Galilei observed the properties of a pendulum while watching the church lamps swinging in a periodic motion while listening to a sermon at a cathedral in Pisa, Italy.
Dowsing & Pendulum
Dowsing has been used for its ability to locate oil, gold, water and other important minerals. The use of a pendulum in dowsing has also been popular throughout the ages. For instance, certain French physicians used a pendulum to diagnose diseases. In modern days, the pendulum has been used in an attempt to heal allergies and determine the gender unborn babies.
Tags: been used, ball swings, Foucault pendulum, giant ball, gravity force, wrecking ball