Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-21
THE PENDULUM AGAIN.
ron THE NATIONAL 1SrELL1eEscER.

experiment showing the durnal rotation Of the EARTH sup
pose that all who have made natural science any part
Of their studies convinced that the pendulum tells lies
in this matter, but that clearly proves that tho earth has
rotary motion its axis for upon examining the motion Of
the pendulum, with respect the circle under it. and
which it vbrates it will be perceived that departs from the
line which first started vbrate, and round
the circumference of the circle This is owing to the change
of the position of the lines rad drawn the circle,
with respect to the point Of the pendulum, caused by the
motion Of the circle with that Of the EARTH both having
axis These effects cannot be traced to any other
cause than the diumal rotation Of the earth.
IT. them philosophers convinced that the pendulum tells
correct tale, yet remains to convince the great mass Of
intelligent persons who either rusty in natural science
who have never made il part Of their studies. As the
Smithsonian Institution has for it's object the dson Of
knowledge among men," it ought to do something to explain
more fully this great experiment. which agtaes the
scientific world There principles Of science connected
with this experiment which by every not considered
taken into consequently darkness enshrouds the
whole affair the mind becomes confused in struggling to
understand it. and away greater indes in natural
science than they were before.
will be recoected that the planes Of the orbits Of all the
planets pass though the centre Of the the plane Of
orbit is imaginary surface, passing from one extremity
Of the orbit to the other and that the eahs orbit cutting
the through its centre, and extending out every side
to the heavens marks the line Of the ecpc the suns
apparent path through the heavens must also be
bered that il the ecpic be considered parallel with the plane
Of the sensible rational horizon, and the earhs axis be
inclined at an angle Of 2si degrees the axis Of the plane Of
the ecpc will represent the relative positions Of the ecp
| tic and the axis Of the earth
An opinion prevails that the earth round from west to
east with its axis in plane parallel with the sensible ho-
rzon and with this view persons imagine themselves
cupyng the highest point the globes therefore cannot
be perceived why the circle under the pendulum round
on apparently precisely perpendicular to the horizon
This difficulty possibly may be removed by passing rod
through small terrestrial GLOBE letting project few inches
each way for the poles then take hold of the north pole and
incline the axis nearly possible at angle Of 231 de-
grees with the axis Of the plane Of the scpc pointing out
on the small globe at the time the latitude occupied BY
the expermen,e and his relative position with respect to the
earhs centre; then turn the globe round, while small PEN
duum, prepared for the purpose, made to vbrate it.
and will be perceived why the circle under the pendulum
axis apparently perpendicular to the horizon
Another difficulty in relation to the suspension Of the PEN
duum to be in the way the understanding Of this
experiment. If the earth turns round, says ONE all things
on must turn with it; how then, the floor which
the circle described have motion independent Of the mo-
Of the point Of suspension The Of suspension,
the centre Of the circle marked out the floor and the centre
of the earth all in right limo in the plane, and 10
the revolution Of circle that part which at the greatest
distance from the centre has the greatest velocity and for This
point in tho line of the circumference Of the circle
which point the pendulum is first started 70 vioa'e
will appear to from under the pendulum, while the
pendulum will appear travel round the arc Of the circle In
contrary direction.
No spprecabe effects in this experiment are caused BY the
annual revolution of the earth in s orbit round he sun but
the epss described by the elongated point of the pendulum
Is caused by Of cir acting the ball. Will DO seen
that the eIpss is only described when the vibrations are 50
slow as not to be able to the currents Of air
log sround H. In proceeding with the experiment from the
poles toward the equator hsrs will be no variation IN the
phenomena but on reaching point on or very near the
equator the motion will be- entirely different from that any
intermediate point between the equator and the poles AT
the equator the pendulum will vibrte at any other point
but there win be no visible motion CIRCLE the reason
thar the earth will rs,oye s axis and carry the pendulum
and circle around the pemete Of the plane Of the equato