物理学史上最美的十个实验第十名Foucault'spendulum傅科钟摆实验In2001,whenscientistsmountedapendulumabovetheSouthPoleandwatcheditswing,theywerereplicatingacelebrateddemonstrationperformedinParisin1851
Usingasteelwire220feetlong,theFrenchscientistJean-Bernard-LéonFoucaultsuspendeda62-poundironballfromthedomeofthePanthéonandsetitinmotion,rockingbackandforth
Tomarkitsprogressheattachedastylustotheballandplacedaringofdampsandonthefloorbelow
Theaudiencewatchedinaweasthependuluminexplicablyappearedtorotate,leavingaslightlydifferenttracewitheachswing
ActuallyitwasthefloorofthePanthéonthatwasslowlymoving,andFoucaulthadshown,moreconvincinglythanever,thattheearthrevolvesonitsaxis
AtthelatitudeofParis,thependulum'spathwouldcompleteafullclockwiserotationevery30hours;ontheSouthernHemisphereitwouldrotatecounterclockwise,andont