Tossup
The observation that these devices are not isochronous inspired Christiaan Huygens (“HOW-ginz”) to solve the tautochrone problem. The period of these devices depends on their initial displacement and is proportional to an elliptic integral of the first kind. A coupled pair of these devices is a classic example of a chaotic system. When these devices’ equation of motion is linearized with the small angle approximation, they can be approximated as harmonic oscillators whose frequency is the square root of little g over L. The Earth’s rotation causes the precession of a type of these devices named for Léon Foucault (“foo-KOH”). For 10 points, what devices consist of a mass at the end of a rod? ■END■
ANSWER: pendulums [accept Foucault’s pendulum; accept double pendulums; prompt on simple harmonic oscillator until “harmonic”]
<Editors, Physics>
= Average correct buzz position
Buzzes
Summary
| Tournament | Edition | TUH | Conv. % | Neg % | Average Buzz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK (North) | UK | 5 | 100% | 0% | 44.80 |
| UK (South) | UK | 8 | 100% | 25% | 57.75 |
| Northern California | US | 4 | 100% | 25% | 41.50 |
| Southern California | US | 7 | 100% | 14% | 43.43 |
| Eastern Canada (1) | US | 4 | 100% | 0% | 37.75 |
| Florida | US | 4 | 100% | 0% | 49.25 |
| Great Lakes | US | 10 | 100% | 20% | 42.80 |
| Lower Mid-Atlantic | US | 9 | 100% | 0% | 49.44 |
| Upper Mid-Atlantic | US | 11 | 100% | 0% | 51.91 |
| Upper Mid-Atlantic | US | 1 | 100% | 100% | 113.00 |
| Midwest | US | 9 | 100% | 11% | 46.56 |
| North | US | 4 | 100% | 25% | 68.75 |
| Northeast | US | 2 | 100% | 0% | 37.00 |
| Pacific | US | 8 | 100% | 13% | 47.13 |
| Southeast | US | 12 | 100% | 0% | 41.33 |
| Upstate NY | US | 5 | 100% | 0% | 45.20 |