The Flex-Pendulum -- Basis for an Improved Timepiece

Abstract

A compound pendulum of simple geometry was built from a lightweight rod to which a pair of masses are clamped, one above and the other below the axis of rotation. By making the position of the upper mass variable, it was found that the characteristics of this pendulum can be altered dramatically. A theoretical model of the instrument is presented, which is in reasonable agreement with experimental observations. From the model it is shown that isochronism of the flex-pendulum can be significantly greater than that of the simple pendulum