Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Papers 34-44 On Science and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, 1966

"Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century" by Victor F. Lenzen is a scientific exploration of the history and advancement of gravity pendulums, specifically their use in measuring Earth's gravitational force during the 1800s. It maps out the journey from rudimentary pendulums inspired by Galileo and Newton to the complex tools employed for exact gravity measurements. The publication begins by highlighting the role of gravity measurements in physics and geodesy, explaining gravity concepts like absolute and relative gravity, and mentioning early experiments by Galileo, Huygens, and Newton. The story spotlights the pendulum as a key tool in understanding gravity, charting its transformation from basic forms to more intricate designs like compound and reversible pendulums, setting the stage for a wide-ranging look at the types and uses of pendulums over the course of the 19th century.