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A
pendulum swings above a table. The table itself is also a
pendulum that swings at right angles to, and has the same
period as the first pendulum. When both pendulums are set
swinging at the same time, the observer sees the relative
motions of the two pendulums in the frame of reference of
the table. The relative motion can be linear, circular or
elliptical, depending on the phases and amplitudes of the
pendulums. The visitor starts the pendulums swinging and controls
their relative phase. Pendulum/Relative Motion illustrate
how two sinusoidal motions at right angles add together. It
can be used to explain polarization of light which can be
linear, elliptical or circular, and which can be considered
as a combination of two components at right angles to one
another. It is startling to hold a flat object next to the
first pendulum and see that its motion is indeed back and
forth in a straight line when it looks like it is moving in
a circle.
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