Objective: Demonstrate the rotation of the earth
with a Foucault pendulum
A Foucault pendulum is a long string pendulum
with a heavy bob, which can be
used to demonstrate the rotation of the
earth. In this experiment, a pendulum
1.2 metres in length is used. The direction
of its oscillations can be very accurately
determined by projecting the pendulum’s
shadow. For long periods of observation,
any damping of the oscillation can be compensated
for with the aid of an adjustable
electromagnetic system to provide additional
momentum.
![Experiment: Foucault pendulum (230 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000555 [UE1050250-230], Oscillations](/imagelibrary/UE1050250-230/UE1050250-230_01_Experiment-Foucault-pendulum-230-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Experiment: Foucault pendulum (230 V, 50/60 Hz), 8000555 [UE1050250-230], Oscillations](/thumblibrary/UE1050250-230/UE1050250-230_01_1200_1200_Experiment-Foucault-pendulum-230-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Foucault Pendulum (230 V, 50/60 Hz), 1000748 [U8403000-230], Oscillations](/thumblibrary/U8403000-230/U8403000-230_01_140_140_Foucault-Pendulum-230-V-5060-Hz.jpg)
![Digital Stopwatch, 1002811 [U11902], Measurement of Time](/thumblibrary/U11902/U11902_01_140_140_Digital-Stopwatch.jpg)