Related papers: Why does the meter beat the second?
The motivation for this article came from an attempt to give an alternative definition for the meter, the SI unit for measuring length. As a starting point towards this goal, in this piece of work we present the underlying theory behind our…
The evaluation of variation in oscillation time period of a simple pendulum as its mass varies proves a rich source of discussion in a physics class-room, overcoming erroneous notions carried forward by students as to what constitutes a…
Pendulums have long fascinated humans ever since Galileo theorized that they are isochronic with regards to their swing. While this simplification is useful in the case of small-angle pendulums due to the accuracy of the small-angle…
One source of beauty in mathematics is totally unexpected connections between two fundamentally different objects. For instance, is it not surprising that the time period of a real simple pendulum is linked with a function arising out of…
The problem of fundamental units is discussed in the context of achievements of both theoretical physics and modern metrology. On one hand, due to fascinating accuracy of atomic clocks, the traditional macroscopic standards of metrology…
Since 1983 the meter is defined to be the "length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299792458 of a second". If there was exactly one single consistent method of synchronizing clocks, or if all…
To measure oscillation of a simple pendulum was probably a first idea coming to mind after appearance of smartphones with small but powerful acceleration sensors~: Simply attach the telephone to a playground swing or hang it on two string…
We present an experimental setup to demonstrate normal modes and symmetry breaking in a two-dimensional pendulum. In our experiment we have used two modes of a single oscillator to demonstrate normal modes, as opposed to two single…
The classic simple pendulum is a device which works as a simple harmonic oscillator (S.H.M.) only approximately. The time period remains fixed as long as the amplitude is kept sufficiently small. This limitation makes it unsatisfactory…
This paper aims to show how to guide students with a familiar example to extract as much physics as possible before jumping into mathematical calculation. The period for a physical pendulum made up of a uniform rod is changed by attaching a…
The feasibility of registering seconds using the frictionless motion of a point-like particle that slides under gravity on an inverted conical surface is studied. Depending on the integer part of the relation between the angular and radial…
Some 50~years ago, physicists, and after them the entire world, started to found their time reference on atomic properties instead of motions of the Earth that have been in use since the origin. Far from being an arrival point, this…
A simple approximation formula is derived here for the dependence of the period of a simple pendulum on amplitude that only requires a pocket calculator and furnishes an error of less than 0.25% with respect to the exact period. It is shown…
The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum ($T = 2\pi\sqrt{l/g}$) is a familiar formula to the average first-year physics student. However, deriving this expression from first principles involves solving a non-linear differential…
We study here a sequence of secondary measures, so called because the set of secondary polynomials on a given term become orthogonal for the next measure. The main result is a formula making explicit the density of any term of the sequence,…
The cause for first and second order electromagnetic equivalency of inertial systems is approached from a different point of view than that of special relativity. While special relativity applies dilatation to time and contraction to space…
Among the first devices used to measure the time we find the sundials and the water-clocks, as told by Vitruvius in his book on the Architecture. The sundials work because of the shadows cast by a rod or pole, the gnomon, on their…
We address the issue of angular measure, which is a contested issue for the International System of Units (SI). We provide a mathematically rigorous and axiomatic presentation of angular measure that leads to the traditional way of…
The attraction of the Moon on objects at the surface of the Earth gives rise to a so-called tidal force which is of the order of 1/10,000,000 times the gravitational force of the Earth. For instance, when the Moon is located between the…
The physical origin of the leap second is discussed in terms of the new gravity model. The calculated time shift of the earth rotation around the sun for one year amounts to $\displaystyle{\Delta T \simeq 0.621 s/ year}$. According to the…