A pendulum clock was placed in the corner of the family room. Recently, it was m

Question

A pendulum clock was placed in the corner of the family room. Recently, it was moved in a hallway having high foot traffic. Since moving it, it was discovered that in spite of the electro-magnet the pendulum often comes to a rest and has to be restarted. This happens regularly.

The family was out of town for a week and upon return the pendulum was still swinging. This confirmed a hypothesis as to why the pendulum was coming to rest so often. Moving the clock from the family room to the hallway caused it to sometimes come to a rest.

Construct a physics argument to explain this phenomenon. Basically, I wish to know
1) how the electro-magnet is used to keep the pendulum swinging in the presence of dampering forces (i.e. friction)?
2.)what is so different about moving the clock from the corner of the family room to a high-traffic area?

Explanation / Answer

1) Actually the clocks made up of pendulum are constructed with some piece of magnetic material attached to the string of the pendulum which would be attracted by the nearer electromagnet placed, when the circuit is completed. This attraction will cause the pendulum to move towards the magnet. When the bob touches the other side (towards electromagnet), the circuit is disconnected and the bob move back, due to gravitational pull. Again ahwen the bob reaches its initial position, the circuit again connected and this will be repeated so the pendulum can swing for ever. (provided power to the electromagnet) 2) When the clock is in the famoly room there is a very less choice for the pedulum to be disturbed when compared to a high traffic area. There are so many sources like sound, momenteral forces, air drag which effect the accuracy of the pendulum.

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