pendulum : Idioms & Phrases

Index

Ballistic pendulum

  • noun a physical pendulum consisting of a large mass suspended from a rod; when it is struck by a projectile its displacement is used to measure the projectile's velocity
WordNet
  • an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material suspended as a pendulum, for measuring the force and velocity of projectiles by means of the arc through which their impact impels it.
Webster 1913

clock pendulum

  • noun a physical pendulum used to regulate a clockwork mechanism
WordNet

Compensation pendulum

  • a clock pendulum in which the effect of changes of temperature of the length of the rod is so counteracted, usually by the opposite expansion of differene metals, that the distance of the center of oscillation from the center of suspension remains invariable; as, the mercurial compensation pendulum, in which the expansion of the rod is compensated by the opposite expansion of mercury in a jar constituting the bob; the gridiron pendulum, in which compensation is effected by the opposite expansion of sets of rodsof different metals.
  • . See Pendulum.
Webster 1913

Compound pendulum

  • noun pendulum consisting of an actual object allowed to rotate freely around a horizontal axis
    compound pendulum.
WordNet
  • an ordinary pendulum; so called, as being made up of different parts, and contrasted with simple pendulum.
Webster 1913

Conical ∨ Revolving, pendulum

  • a weight connected by a rod with a fixed point; and revolving in a horizontal cyrcle about the vertical from that point.
Webster 1913

Conical pendulum

  • . See Pendulum.
Webster 1913

foucault pendulum

  • noun pendulum with a long wire; can swing in any direction; the change in the swing plane demonstrates the earth's rotation
WordNet

Gridiron pendulum

  • . See under Pendulum.
Webster 1913

gun pendulum

  • noun a ballistic pendulum consisting of a suspended gun; the velocity of a projectile in the bore of a gun can be measured by the recoil when the gun is discharged
WordNet

Hydrometric pendulum

  • a species of hydrometer consisting of a hollow ball of ivory or metal suspended by a treated from the center of a graduated quadrant, and held in a stream to measure the velocity of the water by the inclination given to the thread; a kind of current gauge.
Webster 1913

ophioglossum pendulum

  • noun epiphytic fern with straplike usually twisted fronds of tropical Asia and Polynesia and America
    ribbon fern.
WordNet

Pendulum bob

  • the weight at the lower end of a pendulum.
Webster 1913

pendulum clock

  • noun a clock regulated by a pendulum
WordNet

Pendulum level

  • a plumb level. See under Level.
Webster 1913

pendulum watch

  • noun (18th century) a watch with a balance wheel having a fake pendulum attached to it
WordNet

Pendulum wheel

  • the balance of a watch.
Webster 1913

physical pendulum

  • noun pendulum consisting of an actual object allowed to rotate freely around a horizontal axis
    compound pendulum.
WordNet

Ship pendulum

  • a pendulum hung amidships to show the extent of the rolling and pitching of a vessel.
Webster 1913

Simple ∨ Theoretical, pendulum

  • an imaginary pendulum having no dimensions except length, and no weight except at the center of oscillation; in other words, a material point suspended by an ideal line.
Webster 1913

simple pendulum

  • noun a hypothetical pendulum suspended by a weightless frictionless thread of constant length
WordNet