Your favorite twistys.

**Fooman** · 10th November 2005, 12:46

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I never knew that - but it makes sense - ta!

I understand the meter (aka metre aka m) also relates to a second insofar as a pendulum 1 meter long (aka...) will swing at exactly 60 Hz (i.e. exactly once a second).

Anyone know any more on that (or shoot it down... )?
MDU

Wikipedia to the rescue, as my dynamics text is missing from my bookshelf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum

In summary, period (time for one complete cycle or two swings - there and back) the period is approximated (at low angles) by "2 times pi times the square root of (length divided by acceleration due to gravity {~9.8 metres per second squared} ) " So the period of 2 seconds, or 1 per swing is a artifact of the value of 2*3.1459...* square root(1/9.8).

or 2*slightly more that 3 * slightly less than a third = 2* approximately 1= approximately 2 seconds for a complete cycle, or approximately 1 second for a single swing.

It's pretty much a coincidence that half the period of a pendulum 1 m in length is the same time as 1/60th of 1/60th of 1/24th of the average time it takes for one revolution of the planet...that being the original definition of 1 second. You can blame that on the Babylonians (1/60ths) and the Egyptians (1/24ths).

cheers,
FM

**ManDownUnder** · 10th November 2005, 12:56

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

yip born and bred Naki, only visiting this shit hole, lived on atkinson road further up carrington, and on carrington road, and went to school on huatoki st

a ha!

I'm a Stratford boy, moved to Drake St (on the map you linked to) then moved up here after getting an education in Palmy...

**Hitcher** · 10th November 2005, 13:18

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I'm a Stratford boy.

Now there's a coincidence...

**Hitcher** · 10th November 2005, 13:21

The metre (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. It is defined by scientists as the length of the path travelled by light in absolute vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second; or by home handymen as three-and-a-bit feet.

**ManDownUnder** · 10th November 2005, 14:03

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Now there's a coincidence...

Aaaaa - so you're from THE Hitchers of Pembroke Road?

**ManDownUnder** · 10th November 2005, 14:03

Originally Posted by Hitcher

The metre (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. It is defined by scientists as the length of the path travelled by light in absolute vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second; or by home handymen as three-and-a bit feet.

or 5.6 willies...