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so each swing takes one second. It can be seen from equation (1) that for a seconds pendulum, the length is simply proportional to g:

:

Inaccuracy of gravimeter pendulums

In Kater's time, the period T of pendulums could be measured very precisely by timing them with precision clocks set by the passage of stars overhead. Prior to Kater's discovery, the accuracy of g measurements was limited by the difficulty of measuring the other factor L, the length of the pendulum, accurately. L in equation (1) above was the length

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