The Pendulum

Gregory L. Baker was born and educated in Toronto receiving his B.Sc. in mathematics and physics from the University of Toronto, and his M.Sc and Ph.D. in physics, also from the University of Toronto. He has taught physics and mathematics at Bryn Athyn College since 1970, retiring from fulltime involvement in 2007. His scholarly interests have included stochastic processes (as a consultant), chaotic dynamics, and the relationship between religion and science. He has authored or co-authored more than sixty publications, many of which have appeared in peer reviewed journals. His books include the best selling Chaotic Dynamics: an Introduction, a technical/cultural book on the pendulum The Pendulum: a case study in physics, and Religion and Science: from Swedenborg to chaotic dynamics. Baker is a member of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers, and is a recipient of the Glencairn award for scholarship at Bryn Athyn College.James A. Blackburn is Professor of Physics at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada.

• 1. Introduction ; 2. Pendulums somewhat simple ; 3. Pendulums less simple ; 4. The Foucault pendulum ; 5. The torsion pendulum ; 6. The chaotic pendulum ; 7. Coupled pendulums ; 8. The quantum pendulum ; 9. Superconductivity and the pendulum ; 10. The pendulum clock ; A. Pendulum Q ; B. The inverted pendulum ; C. The double pendulum ; D. The cradle pendulum ; E. The long now clock ; F. The Blackburn pendulum

Overall, The Pendulm presents insights and unusual approaches that will broaden the experience of undergraduate physics students.