Foucault's Penguin

Foucault's Penguin is a giant mechanical penguin that illustrates the same principle of the famous Foucault pendulum except using a different more visually animated method.

In the case of the new Penguin version, a deep conically shaped excavation houses the swinging, rigid, powered pendulum, which hangs from a freely rotating bar. This entire arrangement is able to turn in a complete circle, facilitated by precision engineered bearings.

Extending above the pendulum is the actual 3 dimensional penguin. When the pendulum swings forward, the connected penguin tilts backwards, and vice versa, the net effect is the creation of a nodding, action for the penguin.

As the pendulum generates a precession below the surface, the connected penguin above repeats the action.

An ink delivery system located inside the penguin means that every time it lunges forward, its beak delivers a tiny dot to a calibrated circular strip of paper positioned around the perimeter of the viewing/visitor room.

This paper is periodically removed and replaced following each rotation of the pendulum/penguin.

Elaborate miniature versions of Foucault's Penguin are for sale in the shop.

Inevitable deluxe version lays an egg at the end of each complete precession.