Round 1: Tossup 13

The observation that these devices are not isochronous inspired Christiaan Huygens (“HOW-ginz”) to solve the tautochrone problem. The period of these devices (10[1])depends on their initial displacement and is proportional to (-5[1])an elliptic integral of the first kind. (10[1])A coupled pair of these devices is a classic example of a chaotic (10[2])system. (10[3])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> | Packet A
= Average correct buzzpoint

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Buzzes


Summary

TournamentEditionMatchHeardConv. %Neg %Avg. Buzz
Northern CaliforniaMain4100%25%41.50
Southern CaliforniaMain7100%14%43.43
Eastern Canada (1)Main4100%0%37.75
FloridaMain4100%0%49.25
Great LakesMain10100%20%42.80
Lower Mid-AtlanticMain9100%0%49.44
Upper Mid-AtlanticMain11100%0%51.91
Upper Mid-AtlanticMain1100%100%113.00
MidwestMain9100%11%46.56
NorthMain4100%25%68.75
NortheastMain2100%0%37.00
PacificMain8100%13%47.13
South CentralMain6100%0%46.67
SoutheastMain12100%0%41.33
Upstate NYMain5100%0%45.20
UK (North)UK5100%0%44.80
UK (South)UK8100%25%57.75