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The cubic period-distance relation for the Kate reversible pendulum

  • Published:
Central European Journal of Physics

Abstract

We describe the correct cubic relation between the mass configuration of a Kater reversible pendulum and its period of oscillation. From an analysis of its solutions we conclude that there could be as many as three distinct mass configurations for which the periods of small oscillations about the two pivots of the pendulum have the same value. We also discuss a real compound Kater pendulum that realizes this property.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Carlo Alberto 10, 10123, Torino, Italy

    Michele Rossi

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica Generale, Università degli Studi di Torino, via P. Giuria 1, 10125, Torino, Italy

    Lorenzo Zaninetti

Authors
  1. Michele Rossi
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  2. Lorenzo Zaninetti
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Rossi, M., Zaninetti, L. The cubic period-distance relation for the Kate reversible pendulum. centr.eur.j.phys. 3, 636–659 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02475618

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/BF02475618

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