Question: A chronograph is to be opera ted by a 2-s pendulum of length L shown in Fig. A platinum wire attached to the bob completes the electric timing circuit through a drop of mercury as it swings through the lowest point.
(a) What should be the length L of the pendulum?
(b) If the platinum wire is in contact with the mercury for 0.3175 cm of the swing, what must be the amplitude 8 to limit the duration of contact to 0.01 s? (Assume that the velocity during contact is constant and that the amplitude of oscillation is smalI.)
