pendulum

noun
pen*du*lum \ ˈpen-jə-ləm \ ˈpen-dyə- \ -də- \
1660{ds||1||}
  • a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)
  • something (such as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites

Foucault pendulum

noun
Fou*cault pendulum \ ˌfü-ˈkō- \
1931
  • a freely swinging pendulum that consists of a heavy weight hung by a long wire and that swings in a constant direction which appears to change showing that the earth rotates
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