Foucault's Pendulum and Inertial Oscillation

Photographing the locus of a pendulum

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Period of rotation:
9 sec (N=5)


Period of rotation:
5.4 sec (N = 3)


Period of rotation:
3.6 sec (N = 2)


Period of rotation:
2.7 sec (N = 1.5)


Period of rotation:
1.8 sec (N = 1)

When the period of rotation and the pendulum's oscillation period coincide,
the pendulum starts moving in a circular fashion. This is called inertial oscillation.

Experimental conditions

The oscillation period of the pendulum was 1.8 sec.
N is the period of the rotation expressed as a multiple of the period of the pendulum.

Photographic conditions

f=50mm, F3.5, Bulb, ASA100, ND filter used.