This is a video of my grandfather clock demonstrating simple harmonic motion. The pendulum theoretically swings with a period of exactly two seconds. Each time the pendulum reaches it's amplitude point, the clock moves the second hand 6 degrees. The pendulum is incredibly useful as a timekeeper because the magnitude of the amplitude has no effect on the period. Therefore, as air friction slowly reduces the amplitude of this pendulum, the period will remain a constant two seconds.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Simple Harmonic Motion
Just a little late.
This is a video of my grandfather clock demonstrating simple harmonic motion. The pendulum theoretically swings with a period of exactly two seconds. Each time the pendulum reaches it's amplitude point, the clock moves the second hand 6 degrees. The pendulum is incredibly useful as a timekeeper because the magnitude of the amplitude has no effect on the period. Therefore, as air friction slowly reduces the amplitude of this pendulum, the period will remain a constant two seconds.
You probably didn't notice in just ten seconds, but our grandfather clock runs a little fast. To fix this, an adjustment is made to increase the length of the pendulum arm. A longer pendulum arm would move the center of mass away from the pivot point, increasing the period, and decreasing the frequency. In other words, it will take longer for the pendulum to move the second hand.
This is a video of my grandfather clock demonstrating simple harmonic motion. The pendulum theoretically swings with a period of exactly two seconds. Each time the pendulum reaches it's amplitude point, the clock moves the second hand 6 degrees. The pendulum is incredibly useful as a timekeeper because the magnitude of the amplitude has no effect on the period. Therefore, as air friction slowly reduces the amplitude of this pendulum, the period will remain a constant two seconds.
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