Definition of Pendulum

Pen´du`lum
n.1.A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery.
Ballistic pendulum
See under Ballistic.
Compensation pendulum
a clock pendulum in which the effect of changes of temperature of the length of the rod is so counteracted, usually by the opposite expansion of differene metals, that the distance of the center of oscillation from the center of suspension remains invariable; as, the mercurial compensation pendulum, in which the expansion of the rod is compensated by the opposite expansion of mercury in a jar constituting the bob; the gridiron pendulum, in which compensation is effected by the opposite expansion of sets of rods of different metals.
Compound pendulum
an ordinary pendulum; - so called, as being made up of different parts, and contrasted with simple pendulum.
Conical pendulum
a weight connected by a rod with a fixed point; and revolving in a horizontal circle about the vertical from that point.
Pendulum bob
the weight at the lower end of a pendulum.
Pendulum level
a plumb level. See under Level.
Pendulum wheel
the balance of a watch.
Simple pendulum
an imaginary pendulum having no dimensions except length, and no weight except at the center of oscillation; in other words, a material point suspended by an ideal line.


Related Words

Indian file, array, articulation, bank, buzz, catena, catenation, chain, chain reaction, chaining, concatenation, connection, consecution, continuum, course, cycle, descent, drone, endless belt, endless round, file, filiation, gamut, gradation, hum, line, lineage, metronome, monotone, nexus, oscillator, periodicity, plenum, powder train, progression, queue, range, rank, recurrence, reticulation, rocker, rocking chair, rocking stone, rotation, round, routine, row, run, scale, seesaw, sequence, series, shuttle, shuttlecock, single file, spectrum, string, succession, swath, swing, teeter, teeter-totter, teeterboard, teetery-bender, thread, tier, train, vibrator, windrow

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