[time-nuts] NPR story on coupled pendulums

Bob Camp kb8tq at n1k.org
Wed Jul 29 22:53:23 UTC 2015


Hi

There are a *lot* of possible ways a pendulum can synchronize. In
reality, there may be multiple cases with different mechanisms.The gotcha
has always been *proving* that this or that mechanism is “the one” in 
a specific case. 

Bob

> On Jul 29, 2015, at 2:44 PM, Bill Hawkins <bill at iaxs.net> wrote:
> 
> They talk about sound pulses affecting the pendulums.
> 
> Sounds more likely that the mechanical vibration transmitted through the
> aluminum bar affects the escapements.
> 
> Perhaps the 'tock' side generates the strongest pulse, and the 'tick'
> side is sensitive enough to be affected by that pulse.
> 
> That would soon have the clocks synchronized out of phase, provided the
> mounting arrangement did not absorb too much of the pulse energy.
> 
> The situation is similar to synchronizing a TV vertical oscillator
> (running a bit slow) with the received sync pulse from the broadcast
> station, no?
> 
> Bill Hawkins
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Hal
> Murray
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 10:55 PM
> To: time-nuts at febo.com
> Cc: Hal Murray
> Subject: [time-nuts] NPR story on coupled pendulums
> 
> University Of Lisbon Scientists Solve Pendulum Clock Mystery
> 
> Two professors at the University of Lisbon say they have discovered why
> the pendulums of clocks set on the same surface will eventually swing
> together in opposing directions.
> 
> http://www.npr.org/2015/07/28/427178282/university-of-lisbon-scientists-
> solve-
> pendulum-clock-mystery
> 
> I thought the NPR story was not very interesting.  (But it probably
> wasn't targeted at time-nuts. :)
> 
> ----------
> 
> Here is the paper:
>  Huygens synchronization of two clocks
>  http://www.nature.com/srep/2015/150723/srep11548/full/srep11548.html
> 
> 
> --
> These are my opinions.  I hate spam.
> 
> 
> 
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