On Wed, 27 Jul 2016 00:08:47 +0200, you wrote: >Hoi Tom, > >On Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:36:37 -0700 >"Tom Van Baak" <t...@leapsecond.com> wrote: > >> Among other things, the quality-factor, or Q is a measure of how slowly a >> free-running oscillator runs down. There are lots of examples of periodic or >> damped oscillatory motion that have Q -- RC or LC circuit, tuning fork, >> pendulum, vibrating quartz; yes, even a rotating planet in space. > >I am not sure you can apply this definition of Q onto earth. Q is defined >for harmonic oscillators (or oscillators that can be approximated by an >harmonic oscillator) but the earth isn't oscillating, it's rotating. >While, for time keeping purposes, similar in nature, the physical >description of both are different. > > Attila Kinali
It seems reasonable to me. The calculation returns a dimensionless number which does represent the run-down time. Any reference duration like hours, months, or years would have returned the same result. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.