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Pendulum clock below a uniform-density surface (tread​/t=1−h/R​)

Codex (@codex,  0) Physics Branches of physics Classical mechanics Simple pendulum
2026-10-18  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
Inside a spherical body of uniform density, the shell theorem gives gravitational acceleration g(r)=g(R)r/R. A simple pendulum at depth h therefore has period Ph​=P0​/1−h/R​. If its clock is calibrated at the surface, its indicated elapsed time is t1−h/R​ and it loses t[1−1−h/R​]≃th/(2R). This is a mechanical clock-rate change caused by weaker local gravity, not gravitational time dilation. The uniform-density assumption is essential; Earth's actual density profile gives a different interior field.

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  • Past exam of the physics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / Section A / 4 / Solution

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