Comments on: Beautiful, out-of-phase pendulums http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 00:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: halfacre http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109523 halfacre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109523 My vote would go to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4_8KjmzZk">Steve Reich's 'Piano Phase'.</a> My vote would go to Steve Reich’s ‘Piano Phase’.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110039 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110039 What a coincidence. My physics teacher played this video to us today as a sort of introduction to waves. What a coincidence. My physics teacher played this video to us today as a sort of introduction to waves.

]]> By: pwr http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110301 pwr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110301 I think the San Francisco Exploratorium has a gizmo like this, if you want to go stare at one IRL I think the San Francisco Exploratorium has a gizmo like this, if you want to go stare at one IRL

]]> By: AGC http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109540 AGC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109540 Mind is blown. Congratulations sir/madam. Mind is blown. Congratulations sir/madam.

]]> By: adamnvillani http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110309 adamnvillani Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110309 Or perhaps most obviously, Steve Reich's "Pendulum Music." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwUx20CLCUo&feature=related http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum_Music Or perhaps most obviously, Steve Reich’s “Pendulum Music.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwUx20CLCUo&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum_Music

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1150005 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1150005 Amazing... great Work.... Amazing… great Work….

]]> By: josephdroberts http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110069 josephdroberts Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110069 I was thinking along the lines of Philip Glass' <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V87VXA6gPuE">The Secret Agent</a> Though naturally just about any minimalist would suffice in a pinch! I was thinking along the lines of Philip Glass’ The Secret Agent

Though naturally just about any minimalist would suffice in a pinch!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109820 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109820 Oh, Wow... I'm tripping balls right now! Oh, Wow… I’m tripping balls right now!

]]> By: johnofjack http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109569 johnofjack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109569 Beautiful. Beautiful.

]]> By: Shay Guy http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110082 Shay Guy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110082 Me, too. In fact, after watching this, I had to dig through my Delicious bookmarks to find it. Looks like I discovered it back in October '06. Me, too. In fact, after watching this, I had to dig through my Delicious bookmarks to find it. Looks like I discovered it back in October ’06.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1111625 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111625 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDHUP3J-ebc&feature=player_embedded small version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDHUP3J-ebc&feature=player_embedded

small version

]]> By: Alan, rewired http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1118794 Alan, rewired Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1118794 I build toys (volunteer) for the Science Playground (ages 2-6) at OMSI. Does anyone have plans for this? I think the kids would love it. I build toys (volunteer) for the Science Playground (ages 2-6) at OMSI.
Does anyone have plans for this? I think the kids would love it.

]]> By: querent http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110099 querent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110099 I'm gonna build one. I’m gonna build one.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1111389 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1111389 @38 the random pattern is seen because this is a discrete representation of a sinusoid, and its frequency is increasing until it can no longer be correctly "sampled" as a sinusoid by the relatively low number of pendulums/discrete timepoints (low sampling resolution) after it gets around 3x starting frequency. As the frequency increases, it occasionally reveals harmonics in odd/nth points, until it hits the nyquist frequency and reflects, then decreasing all the way down to zero, before staring up again. Extended to many more periods' worth of pendulums, and redesigned to allow for consistent raising/lowering of the strings with barrel cams, this would make an excellent visual exhibition of frequency modulation & modulation index. @38 the random pattern is seen because this is a discrete representation of a sinusoid, and its frequency is increasing until it can no longer be correctly “sampled” as a sinusoid by the relatively low number of pendulums/discrete timepoints (low sampling resolution) after it gets around 3x starting frequency. As the frequency increases, it occasionally reveals harmonics in odd/nth points, until it hits the nyquist frequency and reflects, then decreasing all the way down to zero, before staring up again.

Extended to many more periods’ worth of pendulums, and redesigned to allow for consistent raising/lowering of the strings with barrel cams, this would make an excellent visual exhibition of frequency modulation & modulation index.

]]> By: P. Flemming http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1112427 P. Flemming Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1112427 I wonder what the minimum number of pendulums for this to work would be... and how slow they could go... I wonder what the minimum number of pendulums for this to work would be… and how slow they could go…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1131116 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1131116 As I look at the beauty of this display of simple harmonics of physics, it reminds me of the ordered world we all live in. It is part of what brought me to be an engineer, as well as what brought me to remain in respecful awe of the Creator of such a universe! Thank you for this wonderful exhibit. As I look at the beauty of this display of simple harmonics of physics, it reminds me of the ordered world we all live in. It is part of what brought me to be an engineer, as well as what brought me to remain in respecful awe of the Creator of such a universe! Thank you for this wonderful exhibit.

]]> By: jbob http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109358 jbob Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109358 Hyp-Notic. Hyp-Notic.

]]> By: egoVirus http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109362 egoVirus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109362 (yawn) (yawn)

]]> By: Mr. Winka http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109619 Mr. Winka Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109619 F*cking pendulums, how do they work?! Oh yeah, I remember... F = -kx Nevermind. F*cking pendulums, how do they work?!

Oh yeah, I remember…
F = -kx
Nevermind.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1116277 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1116277 Never odd or even. Never odd or even.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110390 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110390 Does anyone have a vertical (looking down) view of this? To me, this looks like the pendulum swings would form a sine wave seen in that plane. The apparently-random view from the end that we see here shows points on a sine wave that is slowing down thereby becoming a lower-frequency wave. We are basically seeing the familiar mathematical graph from the Z axis rather than the usual X-Y planes. A vertical view should be easier to understand - but this is more fun. Does anyone have a vertical (looking down) view of this?

To me, this looks like the pendulum swings would form a sine wave seen in that plane. The apparently-random view from the end that we see here shows points on a sine wave that is slowing down thereby becoming a lower-frequency wave. We are basically seeing the familiar mathematical graph from the Z axis rather than the usual X-Y planes. A vertical view should be easier to understand – but this is more fun.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1164153 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1164153 I found this most challenging. Has anyone described an equation that defines this motion? Bob Franklin I found this most challenging. Has anyone described an equation that defines this motion?

Bob Franklin

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109371 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109371 I am reminded of many of the old school Amiga demos... I suspect I'm in the minority, but at the same time I'm sure I'm not the only one on boingboing to think that... I am reminded of many of the old school Amiga demos… I suspect I’m in the minority, but at the same time I’m sure I’m not the only one on boingboing to think that…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109374 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109374 too bad i can't think up a palindrome to describe my astonishment. .~. too bad i can’t think up a palindrome to describe my astonishment.

.~.

]]> By: rosyatrandom http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109376 rosyatrandom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109376 I love how you see progressions from one pattern to the next; it's as if they are connected in the same way as circles, ellipses, parabola and hyperbola are all just part of the continuum of conic sections. I love how you see progressions from one pattern to the next; it’s as if they are connected in the same way as circles, ellipses, parabola and hyperbola are all just part of the continuum of conic sections.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109632 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109632 If you relax your eyes it looks like the spears are orbiting in 3d, as if around a single axis, instead of in a line. Starting at about :33, try to see it as a snake coiling around a central point, and it progresses from there. It's a weird effect, and much more interesting than watching them phase in a line (tho that's pretty awesome too.) Does that work for anyone else, or is it just me? If you relax your eyes it looks like the spears are orbiting in 3d, as if around a single axis, instead of in a line. Starting at about :33, try to see it as a snake coiling around a central point, and it progresses from there. It’s a weird effect, and much more interesting than watching them phase in a line (tho that’s pretty awesome too.)

Does that work for anyone else, or is it just me?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1110656 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1110656 How long before some advertising agency uses this in a television commercial. In 3D. How long before some advertising agency uses this in a television commercial. In 3D.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109381 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109381 For sale somewhere? For sale somewhere?

]]> By: chrism http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109384 chrism Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109384 Reminds me of the sound/light artwork Chorus by United Visual Artists. Saw it last year at the Wapping Project in London. Utterly stunning. http://youtu.be/dEqIbzMKpN0 Reminds me of the sound/light artwork Chorus by United Visual Artists. Saw it last year at the Wapping Project in London. Utterly stunning.

http://youtu.be/dEqIbzMKpN0

]]> By: dargaud http://boingboing.net/2011/05/13/beautiful-out-of-pha.html#comment-1109394 dargaud Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1109394 I don't know what this UVA Chorus is supposed to be, but I guess the video doesn't do it justice: it seems utterly devoid of interest, both visually and acoustically. I don’t know what this UVA Chorus is supposed to be, but I guess the video doesn’t do it justice: it seems utterly devoid of interest, both visually and acoustically.

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