MEchanics GAthering -MEGA- Seminar: The Foucault effect of the spherical IsoSpring oscillator
Event details
Date | 28.11.2019 |
Hour | 16:15 › 17:30 |
Speaker | Patrick Flückiger, INSTANT-LAB, EPFL |
Location | |
Category | Conferences - Seminars |
In this paper we revisit the Foucault pendulum phenomenon with a novel type of oscillator, the spherical IsoSpring. Spherical Isospring is a 2 degree of freedom oscillator consisting in a sphere suspended by flexible beams which enable the sphere to rotate around its centre following Listing's law. It was initially used as an escapement in clock mechanisms. The behaviour of this oscillator differs from the classical Foucault pendulum when undergoing linear oscillations and placed in a vertically rotating frame. Indeed, for an observer in the rotating frame, the classical Foucault pendulum's plane of oscillation will rotate at the same angular velocity as the frame, whereas the spherical IsoSpring's plane of oscillation will only rotate at half this speed.
This paper covers the design, manufacturing and measurements performed on a proof-of-concept prototype which enables the pseudo-Foucault pendulum effect to be seen with the naked eye. To increase this effect, the prototype is placed on a turntable. The experimental data is presented and indicates promising results validating the theory.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- MEGA.Seminar Organizing Committee