Foucault Pendulum

Definition

A Foucault pendulum is a device that demonstrates the rotation of the Earth. It consists of a heavy weight suspended from a long wire or cable, and its swinging plane gradually changes direction over time, providing visual evidence of the Earth's rotation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Foucault pendulum was invented by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851 as a demonstration of the Earth's rotation.
2. The plane of oscillation of the Foucault pendulum appears to rotate in the opposite direction to the Earth's rotation, completing one full rotation in a 24-hour period at the Earth's poles.
3. The rate of rotation of the Foucault pendulum's plane of oscillation is directly proportional to the sine of the latitude of the location where it is observed.
4. The Coriolis force, a fictitious force that arises in non-inertial frames of reference, is responsible for the apparent rotation of the Foucault pendulum's plane of oscillation.
5. The conservation of angular momentum is a fundamental principle that explains the behavior of the Foucault pendulum, as the pendulum's angular momentum must be conserved as the Earth rotates beneath it.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Foucault pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the Earth.
  • The Foucault pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the Earth by the apparent rotation of the plane of oscillation of the pendulum. As the Earth rotates, the Coriolis force acts on the pendulum, causing its plane of oscillation to gradually shift in the opposite direction to the Earth's rotation. This visual demonstration provides evidence of the Earth's rotation, as the pendulum's plane of oscillation completes one full rotation in a 24-hour period at the Earth's poles.
• Describe the role of the Coriolis force in the behavior of the Foucault pendulum.
  • The Coriolis force is a key factor in the behavior of the Foucault pendulum. As the Earth rotates, the Coriolis force acts on the pendulum, causing its plane of oscillation to appear to rotate in the opposite direction to the Earth's rotation. This is because the Coriolis force is a fictitious force that arises in non-inertial frames of reference, such as the Earth's rotating frame. The Coriolis force deflects the pendulum's motion, resulting in the observed rotation of its plane of oscillation.
• Analyze how the conservation of angular momentum explains the behavior of the Foucault pendulum.
  • The conservation of angular momentum is a fundamental principle that explains the behavior of the Foucault pendulum. As the Earth rotates beneath the pendulum, the pendulum's angular momentum must be conserved. This means that the pendulum's plane of oscillation must rotate in the opposite direction to the Earth's rotation, in order to maintain its angular momentum. The rate of rotation of the pendulum's plane of oscillation is directly proportional to the sine of the latitude, as this determines the component of the Earth's angular velocity that is perpendicular to the pendulum's plane of oscillation. The conservation of angular momentum is a key factor in understanding the Foucault pendulum's demonstration of the Earth's rotation.

Related terms

Coriolis Force: The Coriolis force is a fictitious force that appears to act on objects in motion within a rotating reference frame, such as the Earth. It causes the swinging plane of a Foucault pendulum to rotate.

Angular Momentum: Angular momentum is a measure of the rotational motion of an object. The conservation of angular momentum is a key principle that explains the behavior of a Foucault pendulum.

Non-inertial Frame: A non-inertial frame of reference is a frame that is accelerating or rotating, such as the Earth. The Foucault pendulum demonstrates the effects of a non-inertial frame on the motion of an object.