Category:Definitions/Foucault's Pendulum

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Foucault's pendulum is an experiment for demonstrating the rotation of Earth about its axis.

It consists of a long pendulum (of the order of tens of metres) with a heavy bob (of the order of tens of kilograms.

Such a pendulum is set in motion with a small (of the order of tens of centimetres) and left to swing.

It is seen that the bob swings in a plane, tracing a straight line on the floor beneath.

As Earth rotates about its axis, the plane of swing remains constant.

Hence the plane of swing appears to slowly rotate in the opposite direction to that of Earth.