Pendulum clock's period changes as temperature varies

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on how temperature affects the period of a pendulum clock. As temperature increases, the pendulum's length expands, leading to a longer period, which causes the clock to gain time. Conversely, in colder temperatures, the pendulum contracts, resulting in a shorter period and the clock losing time. The relationship between temperature and pendulum length is crucial for understanding the clock's timekeeping accuracy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermal expansion principles
  • Knowledge of pendulum mechanics
  • Familiarity with the concept of period in oscillatory motion
  • Basic grasp of gravitational force effects on pendulum motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of thermal expansion on various materials used in pendulum clocks
  • Study the mathematical relationship between pendulum length and period
  • Explore the impact of temperature on timekeeping accuracy in mechanical clocks
  • Learn about compensating mechanisms in pendulum clocks for temperature variations
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, clockmakers, and anyone interested in the mechanics of pendulum clocks and their timekeeping accuracy under varying temperature conditions.

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Homework Statement


A pendulum clock is designed to tick off one second on each side-to-side swing of the pendulum (two ticks per complete period).
Will a pendulum clock gain time in hot weather and lose it in cold, or the reverse? Explain your reasoning?

Homework Equations


No equation, data, and variables are given, but the question has to do with temperature and heat.

The Attempt at a Solution


I know what the object expands when it's heated, and shrinks when it's cooled. The thermal expansion equation states that (delta)V= B*V0*(delta)T. in words:

change in volume= coefficient * initial volume * change in temperature.

However, i don't think change in volume has anything to do with the period of the pendulum clock. I believe that the mass of the object or the volume of the object all have the same gravitational force (g) pulling towards the center of the earth.

Please help me! this question has been bugging me for days! I can't think of any reasons on how change in volume affects the period of the clock!
 
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What's the relation between the length of the pendulum and the temperature. Hot=longer, cold=shorter? Or the reverse? The period of a pendulum is not only related to g, it's also related to the length.
 
Oh i see it now! thanks for helping me out!
 

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