How to sync five metronomes at once (video)
August 18th, 2008
I’m sure there’s a good reason why these metronomes sync up. Something to do with resonance and the counterweights acting against eachother.
The questions is – if you had just two metronomes, would they be just as likely to end up in sync as perfect anti-phase?
Entry Filed under: Awesome Science Videos
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2 Comments
1. Phil | August 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I would imagine they would also end up in sync. Out of phase would mean the weights would be pulling against each other and it’s more natural for the weights to swing in sync with each other.
This reminds me of an experiment I saw once where they showed why the millennium footbridge started swinging once a number of people started walking on it. Humans naturally sync in step with each other due to the small movements, but being in sync causes further resonance leading to a longer swing cycle. Buggered if I can find the video now but it was on the BBC a while ago
2. The Bad Astronomer | August 20th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Try here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/04/science-resonates-throught-the-cosmos/
:-)
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