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A comment on 'Temperamental' Big Ben was ringing up to six seconds late. Parent comment

Re:'Temperamental' Big Ben was ringing up to six seconds late by mintplant on Wednesday August 26, 2015 @04:44AM (#10121804)
So how does adding a coin change the clock's speed? The extra mass can't be changing the period of its pendulum, right? This is the bit of the article I didn't understand.
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Re:'Temperamental' Big Ben was ringing up to six seconds late by IanCal on Wednesday August 26, 2015 @06:39AM (#10122097)
The "length" that's important will be the distance to the centre of mass of the pendulum. By adding weights part-way along the pendulum, you move the centre of mass just like if you'd found a good way of adjusting the length.
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