Construct · 1 fields · 1 citations

isochronism: a standalone construct

One name. One construct. A landmark on the map.

● anchor · a standalone construct Nearest construct by meaning·not indexed
isochronism1 CONSTRUCTIsochronous oscillatorHUYGENS · 1673

A single standalone construct; nearby constructs are located against it in the Collider. Tap a field for its definition, unit, and measures.

Horology

Same period whatever the amplitude

In horology isochronism is the property of a timekeeping oscillator whose period stays constant regardless of how wide it swings (its amplitude). A simple pendulum is only approximately isochronous for small arcs; Huygens showed in his 1673 Horologium oscillatorium that a pendulum forced to follow a cycloidal path is exactly isochronous. In watches the aim is a balance that keeps the same rate whether the mainspring is fully wound or nearly run down, which the balance spring's terminal curve (such as a Breguet overcoil) is shaped to achieve. The referent is amplitude-independence of an oscillator's period, a different idea from a data link that merely delivers at fixed time intervals.[1]

Unit
Variation in oscillation period across amplitudes
Recovery means
Not applicable
Measured by
Measured as the change in rate between large and small balance amplitudes, or across the mainspring's wind

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Nearby constructs

amplitude4 fields · 4 citationsjingle · one word, four constructsbalance4 fields · 5 citationsjingle · one word, four constructschannel4 fields · 4 citationsjingle · one word, four constructs

References

  1. Huygens, C. (1986). The pendulum clock, or geometrical demonstrations concerning the motion of pendula as applied to clocks (R. J. Blackwell, Trans.). Iowa State University Press. (Original work published 1673) ISBN 9780813809335

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