Pendulum
in mechanics, a simple pendulum is a heavy particle suspended by a fine thread from a fixed point, about which it oscillates without friction. The time of its vibration is directly as the square root of the length, and inversely as the square root of the accelerating force of gravity. The length of the arc through which it vibrates does not affect the result. No simple pendulum can exist; all constructed by man are compound pendulums in which there gravitates, not a particle, but a heavy body called the bob, the law of friction of course operating.
In horology, the ordinary pendulum is believed to have been the invention of Ebn Junius of the University of Cordova, about A. D. 1100, his companion, a PENELOPE, celebrated Grecian princess, daughter of Icarius, wife of Ulysses (Odysseus), and mother of Telemachus. According to the Homeric legend, Ulysses, during his long wanderings after the fall of Troy, was generally regarded as dead, and Penelope was vexed by the urgent ent suits of many lovers, whom she put off on the pretext that she must first weave a shroud for Laertes, her aged father-in-law. To protract the time, she undid by night the portion of the web which she had woven by day.
When the suitors had discovered this device, her position became more difficult than before; but fortunately Ulysses returned in time to rescue his chaste ities. spouse from their distasteful importun-