Foucault pendulum

E758294

The Foucault pendulum is a long, freely swinging pendulum that dramatically demonstrates Earth's rotation by slowly changing the direction of its swing relative to the ground.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Il pendolo di Foucault 2

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf pendulum
physics experiment
scientific demonstration
component damping compensation mechanism
fixed support
launch mechanism
long cable
massive bob
demonstrates Earth's rotation
exhibits precession of swing plane
field classical mechanics
physics education
firstDemonstratedBy Léon Foucault NERFINISHED
firstPublicDemonstrationLocation Panthéon, Paris NERFINISHED
firstPublicDemonstrationYear 1851
hasEducationalUse visual demonstration of Earth's rotation
hasProperty freely swinging
large amplitude of swing
long period of oscillation
minimal air resistance
minimal friction
oscillates in a vertical plane
suspension point fixed to Earth
namedAfter Léon Foucault NERFINISHED
oftenLocatedIn planetariums
public buildings
science museums
universities
precessionDueTo Coriolis effect NERFINISHED
Earth's rotation
precessionRate maximum at geographic poles
zero at equator
precessionRateDependsOn latitude
relatedConcept Coriolis effect NERFINISHED
Earth's rotation axis NERFINISHED
inertial frame of reference
non-inertial frame of reference
requires careful alignment at start
rigid building structure
very long suspension length
swingPlaneAppearsToRotate relative to Earth's surface
swingPlaneIsFixedIn inertial space (approximately)
typicalBobMass tens of kilograms or more GENERATED
typicalCableLength several meters to tens of meters GENERATED
usedToIllustrate Coriolis force NERFINISHED
inertial reference frame
non-inertial reference frame
usedToTest rotation of Earth
uses long pendulum

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Léon Foucault hasInstrument Foucault pendulum
Léon Foucault knownFor Foucault pendulum
Eco notableWork Foucault pendulum
subject surface form: Umberto Eco
this entity surface form: Il pendolo di Foucault
Foucault's Pendulum originalTitle Foucault pendulum
this entity surface form: Il pendolo di Foucault
Foucault's Pendulum titleRefersTo Foucault pendulum