Science Design, Inc.
2227 US Highway One #239
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
Phone: (732) 238-3313
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User Manual
The Science Design Foucault Pendulum User Manual can be viewed here (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file.
Table of Contents
| 1. Background | 5 |
| 1.1. What is a Pendulum? | 5 |
| 1.2. Jean Bernard Léon Foucault’s Pendulum | 5 |
| 1.3. Present Day Foucault Pendulums | 6 |
| 1.4. Prof. Dooley’s Experiments and Other Foucault Pendulums | 6 |
| 1.5. The Foucault Pendulum’s Energy Pump | 7 |
| 2. Physics of the Foucault Pendulum | 8 |
| 2.1. Which moves - the Sun or the Earth? | 8 |
| 2.2. How Does a Foucault Pendulum work? | 8 |
| 2.3. Why the Pendulum’s rate is dependent on the latitude | 9 |
| 2.4. Why the pendulum may turn faster or slower than expected | 10 |
| 3. Assembly | 11 |
| 3.1. Locating a place to put the Foucault Pendulum | 11 |
| 3.2. Unpacking and Identifying the Parts | 12 |
| 3.3. Assembling the bob and wire assembly (First Time Only) | 13 |
| 3.4. Assembling the legs | 15 |
| 3.5. Assembling the tripod | 16 |
| 3.6. Leveling the Pendulum | 17 |
| 3.7. Attaching the bob | 18 |
| 3.8. Creating a Clockface | 18 |
| 3.9. Attaching the windscreen | 20 |
| 4. Starting up the Pendulum | 21 |
| 4.1. Power | 21 |
| 4.2. Buttons | 21 |
| 4.3. Initial swing and reset | 22 |
| 4.4. Adjusting the amplitude of the swing | 22 |
| 4.5. Saving and Clearing the Swing Setting | 23 |
| 4.6. Getting the Pendulum to Turn | 24 |
| 5. Miscellaneous | 25 |
| 5.1. Packing, Storage and Travel | 25 |
| 5.2. Keeping the Power On | 25 |
| Frequently Asked Questions | 26 |
| Glossary | 29 |
| Specifications | 30 |
| Technical Support | 31 |
