Spherical Pendulum in Gravitational Experiments

The fine structure of the trajectory of the Foucault pendulum with anisotropic suspension is investigated. In respect of non-Newtonian gravitational effects, a mathematical theory of this device is developed and an analytic formula for the precession of plane of swing as a function of the initial conditions and anisotropy of suspension is obtained. Effects of viscous friction, seismic noise and dynamical instability are investigated. The characteristics of the pendulum dynamics are compared with the results of existing and planned gravitational experiments.