A large pendulum with a 200-lb gold plated bob 12 inches in diameter is on display in the lobby of the united nations building. the pendulum has a length of 75 ft. it is used to show the rotation of the earth-for this reason it is referred to as a foucault pendulum. part a if the pendulum were to be taken to the moon, where the acceleration of gravity is g/6, would the period increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Question

Physics

Gilbert Kidd

2 December, 18:52

A large pendulum with a 200-lb gold plated bob 12 inches in diameter is on display in the lobby of the united nations building. the pendulum has a length of 75 ft. it is used to show the rotation of the earth-for this reason it is referred to as a foucault pendulum. part a if the pendulum were to be taken to the moon, where the acceleration of gravity is g/6, would the period increase, decrease, or stay the same?

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Giovanni Wilkerson · Answer 1

The period of one full swing depends on the length of the pendulum and on gravity. The period of each full swing would be longer on the moon, with less gravity.

The rotation of the plane of the swings doesn't depend on the length of the string OR on gravity. It only depends on the latitude of the place where the pendulum hangs, and the rotation period of the body it's located on.

On Earth, it's (24 hours) / (sine of latitude).

On the moon, it would be (27.32 days) / (sine of latitude).