This is very interesting ready. Something one would normally not think about.
On October 16, 1999, at 2:46 AM, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Southern California near the town of Barstow. Called the "Hector Mine" earthquake, it afforded an opportunity to observe the effects of seismic disturbance on the motion of pendulum clocks. The only serious damage reported was an Amtrack train that derailed with no significant injuries. The following morning, people all over Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada reported pendulum clocks that stopped and, in some cases, stopped clocks that started. I live about 250 miles northwest of Barstow in Santa Barbara. Though we were not awakened by the quake, six pendulum clocks in our house stopped at the precise time of the quake. Many other clocks in the house did not stop. In our house, the clocks that stopped were not all facing in the same direction. Some were hung at right angles to others. It has been suggested that clocks can be stopped by seismic motion in the direction of swing, which can stall (or start up) a pendulum. When a clock is hung perpendicular to the seismic motion, the pendulum might rock into a descending weight and stall.
To read more about this, visit the following web site. There are also charts and graphs that show exactly what happens.
The Effects of an Earthquake on Pendulum Clocks.
On October 16, 1999, at 2:46 AM, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Southern California near the town of Barstow. Called the "Hector Mine" earthquake, it afforded an opportunity to observe the effects of seismic disturbance on the motion of pendulum clocks. The only serious damage reported was an Amtrack train that derailed with no significant injuries. The following morning, people all over Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada reported pendulum clocks that stopped and, in some cases, stopped clocks that started. I live about 250 miles northwest of Barstow in Santa Barbara. Though we were not awakened by the quake, six pendulum clocks in our house stopped at the precise time of the quake. Many other clocks in the house did not stop. In our house, the clocks that stopped were not all facing in the same direction. Some were hung at right angles to others. It has been suggested that clocks can be stopped by seismic motion in the direction of swing, which can stall (or start up) a pendulum. When a clock is hung perpendicular to the seismic motion, the pendulum might rock into a descending weight and stall.
To read more about this, visit the following web site. There are also charts and graphs that show exactly what happens.
The Effects of an Earthquake on Pendulum Clocks.
