Why did the Foucault Pendulum stop?![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6ff9c84f6e8233e0910cc974bbb4a797.jpeg\"\/)
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The Foucault Pendulum at the Museum of Natural Science Feb 27, 2008. Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, in Houston. (Eric Kayne\/Houston Chronicle)<\/p>\n
The Houston Museum of Natural Science posted on its TikTok account<\/a> that its\u00a0Foucault Pendulum stopped swinging this month.<\/p>\n In the video, HMNS’ Johnny Hemberger said all pendulums need a nudge to counteract mechanical friction and air resistance. At HMNS, that nudge comes from an electromagnetic tug at the top of the cable from a metal collar, which moves only in the same direction the cable travels.<\/p>\n He said it is rare to see the pendulum stop, but it needs a mechanical fix.<\/p>\n “In our case, this mechanism has stopped,” Hemberger said. “Because, like all mechanical things, it needs maintenance from time to time, especially after literal decades of virtually nonstop operation.”<\/p>\n Hemberger said the pendulum will be soon working again.<\/p>\n The museum posted another video this week telling visitors and followers it is in the process of fixing it.<\/p>\n “Enjoy the rare phenomenon while it lasts,” the caption said, referring to the stopped pendulum.<\/p>\n What is the Foucault Pendulum?<\/p>\n The Foucault Pendulum was invented by French physicist Jean Bernard L\u00e9on Foucault, who first presented it in 1851 in Paris, according to HMNS.<\/p>\n It demonstrates the Earth’s rotation: The pendulum does not actually change direction; instead, the Earth rotates beneath it.<\/p>\n This article originally published at Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Foucault Pendulum has stopped after decades of swinging. Here’s what happened.<\/a>.<\/p>\n