[snip] > The bob on a Foucault pendulum is usually quite massive, so there's no > reason > why it can't be inexpensive lead-acid batteries that are recharged by > solar cells.
IMO, there is no reason to put anything active on the bob. > I'm sure you'd save money over mechanisms to move the pivot or huge > magnets buried in the floor. The pendulum is very high "Q". You don't want or need a lot of force. I'd guess a coil smaller than a coffee cup would be more than enough. > Given present unemployment levels, you may be able to hire a person to > deliver > impulses to the bob as required. But most of the world has automated such > systems because people are not reliable. True. When in China in about 1979, I was astounded they had Elevator Operators. Many of them, but they had more people than jobs. > Heck, you could build a pendulum and a metaphor for our times. > > Best regards, > Bill Hawkins (also on Jack's BA list) Best, -John ================ _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
