Question

A large pendulum with a 200-lb gold-plated bob 12 inches in diameter is on display in the lobby of the United Nations building. The pendulum has a length of 75 ft. It is used to show the rotation of the Earth-for this reason it is referred to as a Foucault pendulum.

What is the least amount of time it takes for the bob to swing from a position of maximum displacement to the equilibrium position of the pendulum? (Assume that the acceleration due to gravity is g = 9.81 m/s² at the UN building.)

t = __ s

Answer 1