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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Bouncing Ball with a Uniformly Varying Velocity in a Metronome Synchronization Task
Published on: September 21, 2017
Huygens synchronization of two clocks
Henrique M Oliveira1, Luís V Melo2
1Center of Mathematical Analysis Geometry and Dynamical Systems, Department of Mathematics, Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract:
The synchronization of two pendulum clocks hanging from a wall was first observed by Huygens during the XVII century. This type of synchronization is observed in other areas, and is fundamentally different from the problem of two clocks hanging from a moveable base. We present a model explaining the phase opposition synchronization of two pendulum clocks in those conditions. The predicted behaviour is observed experimentally, validating the model.
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