Foucault pendulum - the physics and maths involved

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The discussion centers on the mathematical analysis of Foucault's pendulum, specifically focusing on the equations presented in a referenced paper. The user, Thomas, seeks clarification on the derivation of equation (3) from the preceding equations, particularly questioning the absence of a minus sign in the last term. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the relationships between the variables in the equations, such as r", r"p, and r"o, as well as their physical interpretations.

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Thomas2054
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I have been looking at this paper (http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/pendulumdetails.html) on the details of Foucault's pendulum. I am interested in understanding the details, but am having some trouble. My purpose is to study this as an example of how the analysis is done. I'd like to ask some questions and then plod along on my own, until the next question.

Let me start with this question. In the paragraph above equation (2) Wolfe has the equation: r" = r"p − r"o. I see where he then derives equation (2). However, it is equation (3) with which I am having a problem.

r" = r"p − r"o, which can be expanded to
mr" = mr"p − mr"o. Equation (1) is substituted for mr"p and equation (2), multiplied by m, is substituted for mr"o.

Why in equation (3) does the last term not have a minus sign?

Thanks.

Thomas
 
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Thomas2054 said:
Why in equation (3) does the last term not have a minus sign?
I haven't looked it over too closely, but I suspect that the RHS of (2) is missing a minus sign.
 

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