Why do pendulum clocks keep time?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Swing time is constant for length
Swing time is constant for length ✓ — Correct! A pendulum's period depends only on its length, not the swing size. This isochronism, discovered by Galileo, means each swing takes the same time—perfect for timekeeping!
Gears regulate the motion — Wrong. Gears transfer motion but the pendulum itself is what regulates timing accuracy.
Air resistance slows it down — Wrong. Air resistance actually causes slight inaccuracy. The constant period comes from pendulum physics.
More Physics in Daily Life questions
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- On a warm humid day, why can the same 27 C room feel much worse once you start sweating?
- Why can moving air make a 27 C room feel cooler without changing the thermometer?
- Which hidden factor can make a desk beside a cold window feel chilly even when the thermostat across the room still reads 22 C?
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