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The pendulum is not a reliable time standard mostly because of friction and gravity. To be a reliable time standard, a pendulum would need to form a continuous arc that did not deviate over time. Gravity is always trying to get the pendulum to stop and friction causes the pendulum's fulcrum to resit continued movement. Eventually, a pendulum will stop moving and remain stationary unless acted upon by an external force.

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11y ago
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5mo ago

A pendulum may not be a reliable time standard because its swing can be affected by factors like air resistance, temperature changes, and vibrations, leading to fluctuations in its period. This can result in inaccuracies in timekeeping over long periods. Electrically powered oscillators, like atomic clocks, are more stable and accurate time standards because they are less affected by external influences.

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Q: Why is a pendulum not a reliable time standard?
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What clock came after pendulum clock?

The pendulum clock was followed by the quartz clock. Quartz clocks use the vibrations of a quartz crystal to keep time, and are more accurate and reliable than pendulum clocks. They have largely replaced pendulum clocks in modern timekeeping.


What are the 4 variables in the standard pendulum system?

The four variables in a standard pendulum system are the length of the pendulum, the mass of the pendulum bob, the gravitational acceleration, and the angle at which the pendulum is released.


Why did Christian Huygens invented the pendulum clock?

Christian Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1656 to improve timekeeping accuracy. The use of a pendulum allowed for more precise measurements of time, making the clock more reliable than previous timekeeping devices.


What advantage did the pendulum-clock have over devices such as water-clocks and sand-glasses?

The advantage of the pendulum clock over water-clocks and sand-glasses was its greater accuracy and precision in timekeeping. The swinging motion of the pendulum ensured consistent and reliable time measurements, making it a significant advancement in timekeeping technology.


Who was the first person to build a pendulum that was a reliable timekeeper?

Galileo Galilei is often credited with building the first pendulum clock in the 17th century, but the first reliable pendulum clock is usually attributed to Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who built one in 1656. Huygens' design greatly improved timekeeping accuracy and became the foundation for modern pendulum clocks.

Related questions

The advantage of pendulum standard for the measurement?

One advantage of using a pendulum for measurement is its inherent periodic motion, which allows for a consistent and reliable way to measure time intervals. Additionally, the period of a pendulum is independent of its mass and is mainly determined by the length of the pendulum, making it a potentially accurate standard for measurement.


What clock came after pendulum clock?

The pendulum clock was followed by the quartz clock. Quartz clocks use the vibrations of a quartz crystal to keep time, and are more accurate and reliable than pendulum clocks. They have largely replaced pendulum clocks in modern timekeeping.


What are the 4 variables in the standard pendulum system?

The four variables in a standard pendulum system are the length of the pendulum, the mass of the pendulum bob, the gravitational acceleration, and the angle at which the pendulum is released.


Why you cannot take time period of simple pendulum as a standard time period?

Because length of the pendulum which is equal to distance between the point of suspension and g is the gravitational acceleration and a body repeats its to and fro motion in equal interval of time that's why we cant take standard time period.


Why did Christian Huygens invented the pendulum clock?

Christian Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1656 to improve timekeeping accuracy. The use of a pendulum allowed for more precise measurements of time, making the clock more reliable than previous timekeeping devices.


What advantage did the pendulum-clock have over devices such as water-clocks and sand-glasses?

The advantage of the pendulum clock over water-clocks and sand-glasses was its greater accuracy and precision in timekeeping. The swinging motion of the pendulum ensured consistent and reliable time measurements, making it a significant advancement in timekeeping technology.


Who made the pendulum clock?

The pendulum clock was invented by Dutch polymath Christiaan Huygens in 1656. This invention revolutionized timekeeping by providing a more accurate and reliable way to measure time over long durations.


What are the drawbacks to use the period of a pendulum as a time standard?

Friction with the air, friction with it's axle, motion of whatever it's mounted on, variations in gravity (due to geographic location, pull from the moon, etc.), entropy, and undoubtedly many many more factors all make the pendulum a mediocre time standard.


Who was the first person to build a pendulum that was a reliable timekeeper?

Galileo Galilei is often credited with building the first pendulum clock in the 17th century, but the first reliable pendulum clock is usually attributed to Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who built one in 1656. Huygens' design greatly improved timekeeping accuracy and became the foundation for modern pendulum clocks.


What happens when you double the mass of a pendulum?

Doubling the mass of a pendulum will not affect the time period of its oscillation. The time period of a pendulum depends on the length of the pendulum and the acceleration due to gravity, but not on the mass of the pendulum bob.


Would a pendulum on the moon make a poor standard for the unit of time?

It would work it if is calibrated to account for the lower gravity on the Moon.


How does the length of the pendulum effect the pendulum?

The longer the length of the pendulum, the longer the time taken for the pendulum to complete 1 oscillation.