Pendulum Clocks - Timekeeping by Swinging Pendulum clocks are the pioneer of more precise clocks that can gauge time accurately. They are the missing link between crude mechanical clocks and the more advanced chronometers we have today. Pendulum clocks are the first ones to have some sense of accuracy, and up until now, they are being used because of its spellbinding beauty.

Pendulum Clock's History The concept of pendulum motion was started in late 16th century by Galileo Galilei who observed the swinging motion of the chandeliers, which seems to maintain a constant swing in every size. He started a query in isochronisms, and with his son, he began drawing plans for a pendulum clock in early 17th century, but Galileo never lived to finish it. The first pendulum clocks arrived during the mid-17th century when Christiaan Huygens developed his first mechanical pendulum clock. Huygens used the concept of pendulum Galileo has studied during the late 16th century. It was one of the first more accurate clocks during that time, accurate up to minute a day. Huygens discovered that the wide swings the verge escapements make caused inaccuracy and variability of the clocks rate. The verge-and-foliot escapement prevailing during that time caused inaccuracy even for pendulum clocks, and a new form of escapement should be made. It was not until 1670 that the spring escapement was developed, decreasing the pendulum swing range to 4 to 6 degrees. This makes for a steadier, more uniform swing which led to the development of William Clement's grandfather clocks in 1680 and the rise of the minute hand's popularity in 1690. The rest, of course, is ticking history.

Pendulum in Action All pendulum clocks have common parts, namely the power source, the gear train, the escapement, the pendulum, and the dials. The power source moves the entire system of gear train, which, in turn, moves the dials. They can be made of mainspring, electricity from batteries, or the pendulum itself. The gear train is responsible for keeping the pendulum in action, while the escapement gives pendulum timed nudges to keep it swinging like the previous swing. The pendulum is used to precisely tell the time and make sure the clock is still accurate, while the dials display the time in the clock face. Pendulum clocks work just like any other clocks. A power source transfer power to the gear trains, while the escapement regulates the rate and amount of power transmitted per unit of time. The gears in the gear trains move depending on the number of teeth they may have, some corresponds to a minute, a second or an hour. These gears, in turn, move the dials to show the correct time.

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