Pendulum Speed

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

As a very new clockmaker, it's time for me to ask what might be a silly question. (It's just as well that I'm old enough not to care)!

I thought that the speed of a pendulum didn't matter because the period remains constant. If this is correct, what is the purpose of the fuseé that I have made for one of John Wilding's clocks?

Many Thanks, David

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

A fusee is appropriate for spring energised clocks, not gravity powered ones. The pendulum will require a constant input to keep it swinging consistently and accurately (hopefully).

To all intents and purposes, the period of a pendulum depends only on its length, but it does need some energy input to keep it swinging at a reasonable amplitude.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Speed isn't quite the right word, books all use 'amplitude'. Much the same thing though.

Amplitude is a measure of how high a pendulum rises, usually expressed as the angle swept by the rod. High amplitude gives high speed, not useful, and the amplitude is kept low.

At the top of each a swing, both sides, the bob comes briefly to a stop, speed zero. Then gravity accelerates the bob downwards, and it's travelling at top speed at Bottom Dead Centre. After passing BDC, the bob de-accelerates to speed zero as it climbs to the other side, then repeats. The pendulum oscillates, and the time taken to go from side to side depends almost entirely on the length of the rod.

Almost! Period also varies slightly with amplitude, enough to be a problem. A pendulum loses energy each time it swings, causing the amplitude to fall, altering the period. And to keep going, the clock has to replace the lost energy by impulsing the pendulum, which also causes the amplitude to vary.

For accuracy, it pays to have the impulse apply a constant amount of energy to the pendulum each time. Unfortunately, in a spring powered clock, the impulse weakens as the spring unwinds, causing noticeable drift. A fusee fixes this by regulating the power delivered by the spring; it keeps impulse power nearly constant between rewinds.

The impulse (hence amplitude and period) is also disturbed by winding, so better mechanical clocks feature a remontoire – an independent source of energy that keeps impulses constant during winding.

The purpose of the fusee and remontoire is to keep the pendulum swinging at the same amplitude (speed at BDC), no matter what the input energy source is up to. Then the clock keeps better time.

Dave

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Brilliant answers thank you.

David

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

You could use the term 'frequency' instead of Amplitude. But I suspect that there is a good reason not to. Using 'terms of the trade' rather than everyday expressions is a well known dodge in a wide range of trades and professions. It ensures a degree of aloofness – and I'm sure you realise that other terms are used for that, too.

Regards – Tim

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