The Pendulum Project
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOCULT PENDULUM
Presented by the Avon Lake AP Physics C Class 23-24
Our Vision:
- Our goal is to advance the skills of the students through engineering projects involving research, design, and problem-solving; this involves collaboration with departments across the school and local industries. Ultimately, we want to show how learning in the classroom can transfer into real-world projects and expose students to a collaborative environment.
- The AP Physics C class’ current project is building a fully functioning museum-grade Foucault pendulum located in the high school. This project is an ongoing research and design project that has spanned multiple graduating classes.
Goals:
Student Development
Each student will have the opportunity to collaborate with engineers and businesses, developing their skills in networking and engineering. This will serve them well in their prospective futures as engineers and professionals. This project fosters collaboration between different departments of the school - such as the art, band, and tech department.
Community/School Impact
The pendulum aims to serve as a landmark for the community, enhancing the collective understanding of the sciences and inspiring younger students. The project serves as a feat of engineering for our school, and it will allow students and investors a visual representation of their impact.
Problem Solving
Problem solving skills are developed for students through this project. We are able to identify, analyze, and resolve issues within the design process. Students are constantly monitoring progress and prepared to make adaptations as needed.
Science behind the pendulum
A simple pendulum is defined as a weight suspended from a fixed point that swings freely due to the force of gravity.
Focault Pendulum
- Like a simple pendulum, a Foucault Pendulum is hung from a fixed point and is free to oscillate.
- A Foucault Pendulum is a type of pendulum that shows the rotation of the earth by oscillating over a fixed point while the Earth rotates beneath it.
- Foucault pendulums complete a full rotation in 24 hours on the North Pole and do not rotate on the equator.
- Because of Avon Lake’s latitude, it takes roughly 36 hours for the pendulum to complete a rotation.
Energy
- A fully functioning Foucault pendulum is an autonomous system.
- It has to maintain an amplitude and precession without additional interference, however, as the pendulum swings, it loses energy due to air resistance.
- Additionally, the way the pendulum is held at its pivot point (where it is attached to the ceiling) can affect its rotation and introduce friction which causes the system to lose energy.
Coding
- To reintroduce energy to the system, we are using an Arduino microcontroller, which turns on an electromagnet when the infrared sensor is triggered.
- The electromagnet ensures the pendulum maintains its amplitude and precession (its circular movement) by pulsing the magnet to pull the bob along its path.
Amplitude
- For the Foucault pendulum to accurately represent Earth’s rotation, it must maintain a specific amplitude.
- The amplitude of the pendulum is the maximum displacement of the bob from its position at equilibrium.
Precession
- Precession is the illusion that the pendulum is rotating in a circle as it swings.
- In actuality, the bob itself continues swinging in a line due to its inertia as the Earth completes its rotation beneath it.
- Because of this motion, the pendulum will appear to move 360 degrees, but the resulting motion is a representation of the Earth’s rotation.
Physics in Action
FAQs
How can we help?
The Pendulum Project has been ongoing, beginning in 2019, and continuing into the 2023-2024 school year and beyond. In order to work through the design process, we have needed access to materials outside of what the school provides. To fund the purchase of these materials and the continuation of the program, we host presentations for local companies to receive grants and sponsors. Another resource that helps our program is direct donations, which we are able to receive through the donation link on our website.
Where will the pendulum be located?
Once this pendulum is built, it will be located in a new section in the school where all student and staff will be able to appreciate the accomplishments of previous physics classes.
Who will benefit from the pendulum?
A variety of people will be able to enjoy the pendulum once it is up and running! We hope the entire community will benefit from this pendulum because they will be able to come in to see a museum-grade pendulum showcasing the efforts of students pursuing the STEM field. Elementary students will be able to go on field trips to the high school and be inspired to explore the possibilities of science within their future classes or through a future career. Also, past AP Physics C students will be able to see how all of their hard work paid off.
Why is it taking so long to build?
In college and industry settings, building a Foucault pendulum can take upwards of 10 years spent researching, designing, and constructing. Also, due to school years being only 9 months long compared to the typical work year of 12 months, there is less time to be put towards research; within these 9 months, 2 periods per week are dedicated to the collaboration of the team out of the time for the AP Physics C curriculum. To start the year, incoming students also have to take some of this valuable time to learn about the pendulum project and the progress of previous classes.
