If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

In 1851, the French physicist Léon Foucault provided an experimental proof of the Earth’s rotation using a pendulum. Although Foucault is best known for this ingenious experiment, he also made several ...

Learning is generally most effective when there is a healthy mix of theory as well as hands on learning through experiments or demonstrations. In most cases because of limited equipment available or ...

During Foucalt’s life it was already proven that the Earth rotated, thanks to experiments which showed that weights dropped from tall towers fell slightly to one side rather than straight down. This ...