Colorado Centennial Foucault Pendulum

Chronology of the Colorado Centennial Foucault Pendulum Parameters of the Colorado Centennial Foucault Pendulum Operation of the Colorado Centennial Foucault Pendulum About Leon Foucault Physics Behind the Foucault Pendulum Interesting Foucault Pendulum Resources on the Web

Chronology

February 3, 1851 - Leon Foucault publishes his description of the pendulum that demonstrates the rotation of the earth, "Demonstration physique du mouvement de rotation de la terre au moyen du pendule," Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences, Vol. 32, pg 135. This experiment was carried out in the Meridian Room in the Paris Observatory. At the suggestion of Napolean III, the experiment was later performed as a public demonstration in the Pantheon in Paris.

October 17, 1857 - Fifteen prospectors camp near the Red Rocks at the mouth of Boulder Canyon where the town of Boulder was later established.

February 28, 1861 - Congress establishes the Colorado Territory.

November 7, 1861 - William Gilpin, Governor of the Colorado Territory, signs into law a bill passed by the Territorial Legislature which is an "Act to Establish the University of Colorado."

September 20, 1875 - The cornerstone of Old Main is laid.

July 1, 1876 - The voters of Colorado approve the State Constitution. This constituition establishes the University of Colorado and the Board of Regents of the University.

August 1, 1876 - The President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, proclaims Colorado to be the 38th state. Colorado is thus the "Centennial State."

September 5, 1877 - Joseph A. Sewall, the first president of the University of Colorado, presides in Old Main at the ceremonies marking the opening of the first classes at the Univeristy of Colorado.

October 27, 1976 - Roland C. Rautenstraus, twelfth president of the University of Colorado, welcomes Jacques Kosciusko-Morizet, French Ambassador to the United States, and other distinguished guests representing the State of Colorado, the University of Colorado, and the City of Boulder to the dedication of the Colorado Centennial Foucault Pendulum. This event commemorates:

• The 200th anniversery of the founding of the United States,
• The 125th anniversery of Foucault's first pendulum,
• The 100th anniversery of the State of Colorado,
• The many contributions of French speaking people to the history and culture of Colorado, and
• Over two hundred years of friendship and goodwill between the people of France and the people of the United States.

Interesting Foucault Pendulum Resources on the Web

• The California Academy of Sciences web pages about Foucault Pendulums

• A good web page about the Foucault Pendulum at the "Arts et Metiers" Museum in Paris

• The simple pendulum simulation from the University of Colorado PhET group. If it doesn't work out-of-the-box on your computer or browser, more information and download instructions (and a lot more great simulations) are here.