The Foucault Pendulum, invented by French physicist Léon Foucault in the mid-nineteenth century, is noteworthy in scientific history because it offered the first laboratory demonstration demonstrating the Earth’s rotation on its axis.
The Pendulum of Foucault in the New Parliament acts as a symbolic depiction of the merger of the concept of India and the immensity of the universe in the New Parliament.
The workings of Foucault’s Pendulum, its historical significance, and the unique features of the pendulum housed within the new Parliament are all discussed in this article.
Understanding Foucault’s Pendulum
Named after its creator, Léon Foucault, the Foucault’s Pendulum consists of a 28-kilo iron ball and a 67-meter steel wire.
Foucault introduced this groundbreaking pendulum in 1851, initially placing it inside France’s Panthéon.
By pushing the pendulum to one side and releasing it, Foucault observed its subsequent back-and-forth swinging motion.
This simple experiment revealed a fascinating phenomenon: while the pendulum swung, the Earth beneath it rotated. This observation demonstrated the concept of relative motion.
The Pendulum of Foucault’s Mechanics
When viewed from above in the plane of the pendulum’s suspension near the North Pole (latitude 90° N), the Earth’s relative motion exhibits a counterclockwise revolution once per approximately 24 hours.
In this situation, the plane of the pendulum seems to revolve clockwise each day when viewed from above.
Foucault pendulums always revolve clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, with the rotation rate decreasing as the pendulum approaches the Equator.
The first pendulums in Paris rotated at a rate of more than 11° per hour, taking around 32 hours to complete a full circle.
The rotation rate, however, varies with latitude, with no rotation at the Equator (0° latitude) and counter-clockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere.
To summarize, when the Earth revolves on its axis, the swing direction of Foucault’s Pendulum changes, exemplifying the Earth’s rotation.
The New Parliament’s Pendulum
The Pendulum of Foucault in the New Parliament was designed by Kolkata’s National Council of Science Museum (NCSM).
It is India’s largest object of its kind, standing 22 meters tall and weighing a whopping 36 kilos. One entire cycle of the pendulum takes 49 hours, 59 minutes, and 18 seconds.
According to Tapas Moharana, the project lead, the entire construction of the pendulum, including its parts, was proudly completed in India.
After receiving a request from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) last year, Moharana and his team worked for about 10 to 12 months to build this amazing piece.
The pendulum is composed of a gunmetal and has an electromagnetic coil to ensure smooth movement.
Establishing such a pendulum necessitates extreme care to guarantee that its motion is predominantly driven by gravity.
In 1991, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune became the first to commission a public installation of this pendulum.
A comparable fixture was later erected in Brisbane’s Queensland Science Museum by NCSM.
E Islam, who worked on these installations and later became the director of Kolkata’s Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, praised their design.
The pendulum in Pune rotated clockwise at a pace of 4.86o per hour, while the one in Brisbane rotated anti-clockwise at a rate of 6.92o per hour, according to experimental results from both hemispheres.
These results confirmed the new design’s success and aligned with theoretical expectations.
Conclusion
The Pendulum of Foucault in the New Parliament is a compelling representation of the confluence of the concept of India and the immensity of the world.
This pendulum, with its historical significance and scientific marvel, serves as a symbol of the Earth’s rotation on its axis.
The National Council of Science Museum methodically crafted this remarkable pendulum, which exhibits India’s expertise in engineering and invention.
Visitors are reminded of the Earth’s constant rotation and our link to the broader cosmos as they watch the pendulum’s elegant swings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the purpose of Foucault’s Pendulum in the new Parliament?
Foucault’s Pendulum in the New Parliament represents the unification of the concept of India and the immensity of the universe.
It emphasizes the Earth’s rotation on its axis and the link between our world and the celestial universe.
Q2. How does Foucault’s Pendulum work?
Foucault’s Pendulum uses a large iron ball hanging from a steel wire to depict the Earth’s rotation.
The Earth rotates beneath the pendulum as it swings back and forth, causing the direction of the swing to vary.
This occurrence exemplifies the concept of relative motion.
Q3. Who invented Foucault’s Pendulum?
The Foucault’s Pendulum was invented by the French physicist Léon Foucault in the mid-19th Century.
His pioneering experiment provided the first laboratory demonstration to prove that the Earth spins on its axis.
Q4. What are the dimensions of the pendulum in the new Parliament?
The pendulum in the new Parliament is an astonishing device, towering 22 meters tall and weighing a hefty 36 kg. It is considered India’s largest pendulum of its kind.
Q5. How long does it take for the pendulum in the new Parliament to complete one rotation?
One entire cycle of the pendulum in the new Parliament takes approximately 49 hours, 59 minutes, and 18 seconds.
This methodical and slow pace highlights the Earth’s gradual rotation and adds to the grandeur of the pendulum’s display.
