Bob (physics)

A bob is the weight on the end of a pendulum most com-

monly, but not exclusively, found in pendulum clocks.
1 Reason for use
Although a pendulum can theoretically be any shape, any
rigid object swinging on a pivot, clock pendulums are usu-
ally made of a weight or bob attached to the bottom end
of a rod, with the top attached to a pivot so it can swing.
The advantage of this construction is that it positions the
centre of mass close to the physical end of the pendulum,
farthest from the pivot. This maximizes the moment of
inertia, and minimises the length of pendulum required
for a given period. Shorter pendulums allow the clock
case to be made smaller, and also minimize the pendu-
lums air resistance. Since most of the energy loss in
clocks is due to air friction of the pendulum, this allows
clocks to run longer on a given power source.
2 Use in clocks
Traditionally, a pendulum bob is a round at disk, lens-
shaped in section, but bobs in older clocks often have dec-
orative carving and shapes characteristic of the type of
clock. They are usually made of a dense metal such as
iron or brass. Lead is denser, but is usually avoided be-
cause of its softness, which would result in the bob being
dented during its inevitable collisions with the inside of
the clock case when the clock is moved.
In most pendulum clocks the rate is adjusted by moving
the bob up or down on the pendulum rod. Moving it up
shortens the pendulum, making it beat more quickly, and
causing the clock to gain time. In the most common ar-
rangement, the bob is attached to the pendulum with an
adjustment nut at the bottom, on the threaded end of the
pendulum rod. Turning the nut adjusts the height of the
bob. But some bobs have levers or dials to adjust the
height. In some precision clocks there is a smaller auxil-
iary weight on a threaded shaft to allow more ne adjust-
ment. Tower clocks sometimes have a tray mounted on
the pendulum rod, to which small weights can be added
or removed, to adjust the rate without stopping the clock.
The weight of the bob itself has little eect on the period
of the pendulum. However, a heavier bob helps to keep
the pendulum moving smoothly until it receives its next
push from the clocks escapement mechanism. That in-
Pendulum clock with visible bob
creases the pendulums Q factor, making the motion of
the pendulum more independent of the escapement and
the errors it introduces, leading to increased accuracy. On
the other hand, the heavier the bob is the more energy
must be supplied by the clocks power source and more
friction and wear occurs in the clocks movement. Pen-
dulum bobs in quality clocks are usually made as heavy
as the clocks movement can drive. A common weight
for the bob of a one second pendulum, widely used in
grandfather clocks and many others, is 15 lbs (6.8 kg).
1
2 4 SEE ALSO
3 References
4 See also
Plumb-bob
3
5 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
5.1 Text
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5.2 Images
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