Question

Locations other than the North and South Poles move in a circle around Earth’s axis as Earth rotates. Because of this motion, Foucault’s pendulum does not complete a full circle in one day. For example, it only turns 270 degrees in one day in Paris. How many hours would it take to complete one full circle (360 degrees) in Paris? Show your work.

A. 11
B. 18
C. 27
D. 32

Answer 1

D..32 hours

Step-by-step explanation:

Paris, 48 degrees 51 minutes north, a full precession cycle takes just under 32 hours, so after one sidereal day, when the Earth is back in the same orientation as one sidereal day before, the oscillation plane has turned by just over 270 degrees.