English

Foucault precession manifested in a simple system

Popular Physics 2014-08-19 v2 Classical Physics

Abstract

This article aims to answer the question, "What is the simplest system that embodies the essence of Foucault's pendulum?" We study a very elementary idealized system that exhibits a precession behavior analogous to the classic pendulum. The system consists of a particle without inertial mass, constrained to an inclined plane that rotates about a vertical axis. Insights gained from this analysis are used to understand the rate of precession in a straightforward way.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1408.3047,
  title  = {Foucault precession manifested in a simple system},
  author = {Praveen S. Bharadhwaj},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1408.3047},
  year   = {2014}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T05:27:56.178Z