Round 1: Tossup 13

The observation that these devices are not isochronous inspired Christiaan Huygens (“HOW-ginz”) to solve the tautochrone (-5[1])problem. The period of these devices depends on their initial displacement and is proportional (10[1])to an elliptic (-5[1])integral of the first kind. (10[1])A coupled pair of these devices (10[1])is a classic example of a chaotic 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 (10[1])named for Léon Foucault (“foo-KOH”). For 10 points, what devices consist of a mass at the end of a rod? ■END■ (10[1])

ANSWER: pendulums [accept Foucault’s pendulum; accept double pendulums; prompt on simple harmonic oscillator until “harmonic”]
<Editors, Physics> | Packet A
= Average correct buzz position

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