pendulation

pendulation (countable and uncountable, plural pendulations)

1. A theory, initially proposed by H. Simroth, that the earth not only rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun, but also has a slower swinging movement like a pendulum.
   • 1908, H. Simroth, “The Pendulation Theory in relation to Geographical Distribution”, in Report of the Seventy-Seventh Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science..., page 545:

     Not only is the geographical distribution of creatures now living explained by the pendulation theory, but also the geological periods themselves.

   • 1910, “About Sun-Spots and Animals”, in The Scrap Book, volume 9, page 36:

     With this "pendulation theory," says the Scientific American, is associated the hypothesis that all animal life originated near the ten-degree meridian (the equater of the pendulation axis), which passes through central Europe and the Sudan, and one of its consequences is an intricate connection between sun-spots and the geographical distribution of animals.

   • 1914 September 4, Joseph Barrell, “The status of Hypotheses of Polar Wanderings”, in Science, volume 40, number 1027, page 337:

     This, according to him, is combined with the pendulation movement , the result being that the path of the pole is like the projected thread of a screw of which the axis is the meridian 10 ° E.

2. The act of swinging like a pendulum, as of cargo being transported by crane
   • 1977, Elizabeth Babcock, “Designing For the Desert,”, in Navy Civil Engineer, volume 18, page 22:

     Load pendulation has long been a problem for all floating cranes transferring containers . The unloading rate is adversely affected by load pendulation which also creates hazards to personnel and equipment .

   • 1979, 1979, “Load Pendulation Stabilizer”, in Navy Technical Disclosure Bulletin, volume 4, page 70:

     In fact , it can be shown that a winch , which really does provide constant tension will not damp pendulation .

   • 2000, M.S. Baptista, B.R. Hunt, C. Gregogi, E. Ottt, and J.A. Yorke, “Control of Shipboard Cranes”, in Anil Gore, S.A. Paranjpe, editor, A Course in Mathematical and Statistical Ecology, page 76:

     Typical crane configuarion attempt to reduce the pendulation in the cargo with a Rider Block Tagline System (RBTS), as illustrated in Figure 1.

3. Vacillation between states, especially between reliving a trauma and relaxation.
   • 2009, Svagito Liebermeister, The Zen Way of Counseling, page 127:

     In trauma work, pendulation describes the process of repeatedly going in and coming out of traumatic material.

   • 2009, Thomas. M. Pick, Anne Speckhard, Beatrice Jacuch, Home-grown Terrorism, page 181:

     The essence of pendulation is to avoid circling only within one side. It means the swinging back and forth between my point of view and that of the other or of one concept and another.

   • 2022, Jordan Dann ·, Somatic Therapy for Healing Trauma:

     Pendulation is a somatic therapy tool that can help you cope with the distress and discomfort that may arise when healing from trauma .

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