The cock of the pendulum should be firmly fixed either to the wall or
to the case of the clock, and not to the clock itself, as is sometimes
done, and which has occasioned much irregularity in its rate, from the
motion communicated to the point of suspension. We prefer a bracket or
shelf of cast iron or brass, upon which the clock may be fixed, and the
cock carrying the pendulum attached to its perpendicular back. This
bracket may either be screwed to the back of the clock-case, or, which
is the better mode, securely fixed to the wall; and if the latter be
adopted, the whole may be defended from the atmosphere, or from dust,
by the clock-case, which thus has no connection either with the clock
or with the pendulum.
The point of suspension should be distinctly defined and immovable.
This may be readily effected, after the pendulum shall have taken the
direction of gravity, by means of a strong screw entering the cock
(which should be very stout) on one side, and pressing a flat piece of
brass into firm contact with the spring.
The impulse should be given in that plane of the rod which coincides
with the plane of vibration passing through the axis of the rod. If the
impulse be given at any point either before or behind this plane, the
probable result will be a tremulous unsteady motion of the pendulum.
A few rough trials, and moving the weight, will bring the pendulum near
its intended time of vibration, which should be left a little too slow;
when the bob should be firmly fixed to the rod, if the form of the
pendulum will admit of it, by a pin or screw passing through its centre.
The more delicate adjustment may be completed by shifting the place of
the slider with which the pendulum is supposed to be furnished on the
rod.
Mr. Browne (of whom we have before spoken) practises the following very
delicate mode of adjustment for rate, which will be found extremely
convenient, as it is not necessary to stop the pendulum in order to
make the required alteration. Having ascertained, by experiment, the
effect produced on the rate of the clock, by placing a weight upon the
bob equal to a given number of grains, he prepares certain smaller
weights of sheet-lead, which are turned up at the corners, that they
may be conveniently laid hold of by a pair of forceps, and the effect
of these small weights on the rate of the clock will be, of course,
known by proportion. The rate being supposed to be in defect, the
weights necessary to correct this may be deposited, without difficulty,
upon the bob of the pendulum, or upon some convenient plane surface,
placed in order to receive them: and should it be necessary to remove
any one of the weights, this may readily be done by employing a
delicate pair of forceps, without producing the slightest disturbance
in the motion of the pendulum.
INDEX.
A.
Action and reaction, 34.
Aeriform fluids, 26.
Animalcules, 12.
Atmosphere, impenetrability of, 22.
Compressibility and elasticity of, 23.
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