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View Full Version : how to synchronize metronomes

suttree
05-02-2008, 09:52 PM
i thought this was pretty darned cool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlYIyKic3w8)
devnulljp
05-02-2008, 10:58 PM
i thought this was pretty darned cool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlYIyKic3w8)
That's great. It's called mode-locking (or phase-locking?) and it baffled Christiaan Huygens. I've read some interesting stuff about the chaos mathematics behind that synchronization of pendulum clocks on old sailing ships, which was important when they were trying to crack the longitude nut (that was the clockmaker John Harrison...).
I can't stand it when people say science is boring. If it's boring you're either not paying attention or not being taught properly.

Here's another one about a Newtonian fluid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XQ97XHjVw
suttree
05-02-2008, 11:09 PM
That's great. It's called mode-locking (or phase-locking?) and it baffled Christiaan Huygens. I've read some interesting stuff about the chaos mathematics behind that synchronization of pendulum clocks on old sailing ships, which was important when they were trying to crack the longitude nut (that was the clockmaker John Harrison...).
I can't stand it when people say science is boring. If it's boring you're either not paying attention or not being taught properly.

Here's another one about a Newtonian fluid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XQ97XHjVw

hee hee... i understood about 30% of that post.
devnulljp
05-02-2008, 11:22 PM
hee hee... i understood about 30% of that post.
Well my favourite physics quote (although a different branch) is:
"If you are not completely confused by quantum mechanics, you do not understand it." by John Wheeler.
:D

Reading Stuart Kauffman's Origins of Order too, so I'm sure that's not helping any.
NB-SK
05-06-2008, 03:25 PM
I can't stand it when people say science is boring. If it's boring you're either not paying attention or not being taught properly.


Well my favourite physics quote (although a different branch) is:
"If you are not completely confused by quantum mechanics, you do not understand it." by John Wheeler.
:D

Reading Stuart Kauffman's Origins of Order too, so I'm sure that's not helping any.

“Magnetism, as you recall from physics class, is a powerful force that causes certain items to be attracted to refrigerators.” Dave Barry



In all seriousness, one of my favorite quotes is, "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously." Noam Chomsky.