Thanks to Lesser Mutterings for pointing us to this wonderful science-based limerick.

The primary equation that describes how a pendulum works is:

T is the period of time it takes for a pendulum, displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, to return to the equilibrium position. L is the length of the pendulum, and g is acceleration due to gravity. In other words, this equation is at the heart of making a pendulum-powered clock keep accurate time.

You don’t really have to understand the physics to appreciate this clever limerick:

“The wonders of nature,” said he,
“are remarkably brought home to me
when I think that this clock
gives one tick and one tock
every 2π√(L/g)”