The Dharma Lamp Post Station's Foucault Pendulum

The Dharma Lamp Post Station's Foucault pendulum
seen in season 5 episode, 316 (used to find the Island),
is much more than just a cool looking prop.

There is actually some solid and compelling scientific thinking behind it.

Here I will touch on the science of why the movement
of the pendulum was such a clever inclusion.

When I first saw how they were finding the Island
(through the use of a pendulum and Earth's own gravity),
I thought it was brilliant.

The swinging of the pendulum looks random but it is anything but.

The actual plane of swing rotates relative to the Earth.
“
At either the North Pole or South Pole, the plane of oscillation of a pendulum remains fixed relative to the distant masses of the universe while Earth rotates underneath it, taking one sidereal day to complete a rotation. So, relative to Earth, the plane of oscillation of a pendulum at the North Pole undergoes a full clockwise rotation during one day; a pendulum at the South Pole rotates counter-clockwise.” - Wikipedia
”
A layman's translation of this is that over a period of time, a random looking swing of the pendulum actually undergoes a mathematically predictable motion in relation to the rotation of the Earth. The pendulum's location in LA places it nowhere near either of the planet's poles, so its movement there would follow a different pattern. There is no reason not to believe the Island would move around the Earth under the same law of physics.
Chalk.jpg
So those white chalk marks where the pendulum says the Island "will be", actually would move on a regular basis. What a brilliant (scientifically linked) theory this is.
Anyone interested in a more detailed look into the science of the Foucault pendulum and how it works on Lost should read Pearson Moore's book "Lost Humanity". He does a great job of putting it into context in amazing detail.
There is a section in his book titled "Periodicity" in which he states that;
41Kz iCDFmL. SX324 BO1,204,203,200 .jpg
“
Periodicity is the idea that there are certain rhythms in nature, and that outcomes tied to these rhythms are both repeating and predictable... In the context of Lost, we might refer to periodicity in literary terms: recurring motif, common theme, and so on. - Pearson Moore
”
He then goes on to refer specifically to the pendulum itself;
“
A periodic event does not occur in random fashion. The event recurs because it experiences an outside force. In the case of a pendulum clock, the periodic motion is initiated by pulling the pendulum up and away from its equilibrium position and then releasing. Gravity acts on the weight... - Pearson Moore
”
Moore then charts a number of graphs and uses tried and tested scientific principles and mathematics to link the movement of the pendulum to how it works in locating the ever-moving Island on Lost. He even charts out some make-believe tracks of Rousseau's journeys across the Island over a period of time. He uses evidence from the show of how she likely would have moved around a particular area. After a while, we begin to see a pattern in her journeys. At first glance, there is nothing to see but give it time and it becomes clear. Moore then applies this same thinking to what looks like a somewhat chaotic movement of a pendulum under the forces of Earth's gravity and shows that what looks initially like chaos, is in fact not at all random
So in short - the pendulum as a writing device to tell the story of how to find this fictional Island is nothing short of genius.

 

All Comments

• 
  Lloyd Belcour
  User blog:Gregaus/The Science Behind Lost's Foucault Pendulum | Lostpedia | Fandom
  https://lostpedia.fandom.com/wiki/U...P3q9uPjxEHb4RC05peHpv5hbznmn1RNVwlV1alLaTqOGc
  
  
  LOSTPEDIA.FANDOM.COM
  The Science Behind Lost's Foucault Pendulum
  The Science Behind Lost's Foucault Pendulum
  
  Lloyd Belcour says:
  The Science Behind Lost's Foucault Pendulum
  Gregaus
  Gregaus • 27 March 2016 • User blog:Gregaus
  1
  The Foucault pendulum used to find the Island in episode 316.
  The Dharma Lamp Post Station's Foucault pendulum seen in season 5 episode, 316
  (used to find the Island), is much more than just a cool looking prop.
  There is actually some solid and compelling scientific thinking behind it.
  Here I will touch on the science of why the movement of the pendulum was such a clever inclusion.
  When I first saw how they were finding the Island (through the use of a pendulum and Earth's own gravity),
  I thought it was brilliant.
  The swinging of the pendulum looks random but it is anything but.
  The actual plane of swing rotates relative to the Earth.
• 
  Lloyd Belcour says:
  At either the North Pole or South Pole, the plane of oscillation of a pendulum remains fixed relative
  to the distant masses of the universe while Earth rotates underneath it,
  taking one sidereal day to complete a rotation.
  
  So, relative to Earth, the plane of oscillation of a pendulum at the North Pole
  undergoes a full clockwise rotation during one day; a pendulum
  at the South Pole rotates counter-clockwise.” - Wikipedia
  ”
  A layman's translation of this is that over a period of time,
  a random looking swing of the pendulum actually undergoes a mathematically
  predictable motion in relation to the rotation of the Earth.
  
  The pendulum's location in LA places it nowhere near either of the planet's poles,
  so its movement there would follow a different pattern.
  There is no reason not to believe the Island would move around the Earth under the same law of physics.
• 
  Lloyd Belcour
  Think of the Venus Pattern
• 
  Lloyd Belcour
  
  =AZXrK_SN5RpuPfR7aKfR9T3yCoXYrne091CkXvgMcECIB4qDvywBcdB5L8LltQvpYY50Dn70OHUyx1tIbGwn37OL4q8DLB8O06rMg1MerYMRfUBQrgJxFeDG-JnGNwQoUByhmbYXARKj5ydxNfzWkC7M_XbVmQ5_ydH03Hkf91jLL0t5cAcOP33qbQ8jxhXlFYI&__tn__=R]-R']
  
  
  Lloyd Belcour
  Venus
  
  =AZXrK_SN5RpuPfR7aKfR9T3yCoXYrne091CkXvgMcECIB4qDvywBcdB5L8LltQvpYY50Dn70OHUyx1tIbGwn37OL4q8DLB8O06rMg1MerYMRfUBQrgJxFeDG-JnGNwQoUByhmbYXARKj5ydxNfzWkC7M_XbVmQ5_ydH03Hkf91jLL0t5cAcOP33qbQ8jxhXlFYI&__tn__=R]-R']
  
• 
  Lloyd Belcour
  Venus hides a wealth of information that could help us better understand Earth and exoplanets.
  NASA’s JPL is designing mission concepts to survive the planet’s extreme temperatures
  and atmospheric pressure.
  
  This image is a composite of data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft and Pioneer Venus Orbiter.
• Christy A Mair says
  We have one in My City. It’s in a Middle school.
• 
  Christy A Mair
  There are only 6 Foucault pendulums in Texas. Why is one at a San Antonio middle school? (ksat.com)
  https://www.ksat.com/news/2017/09/0...3MHgxf4c1enf2zgCA917COU_1muqRhRIOoVkE-31sea3s
  
  
  KSAT.COM
  There are only 6 Foucault pendulums in Texas. Why is one at a San Antonio middle school?
  There are only 6 Foucault pendulums in Texas. Why is one at a San Antonio middle school?
  
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