Comments on: Get your physics on! http://freethoughtfortwayne.org/2008/05/13/get-your-physics-on/         Be Reasonable Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:24:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: andyscathouse http://freethoughtfortwayne.org/2008/05/13/get-your-physics-on/#comment-146 andyscathouse Tue, 13 May 2008 22:47:02 +0000 http://freethoughtfortwayne.wordpress.com/?p=80#comment-146 Wow, that was fast neural. Thanks for the link. I learned something today. Wow, that was fast neural. Thanks for the link. I learned something today.

]]> By: neuralgourmet http://freethoughtfortwayne.org/2008/05/13/get-your-physics-on/#comment-142 neuralgourmet Tue, 13 May 2008 18:03:49 +0000 http://freethoughtfortwayne.wordpress.com/?p=80#comment-142 Andy, Skeptigator's got the right idea. Here's a <a href="http://salt.uaa.alaska.edu/dept/metro.html" rel="nofollow">page</a> that talks about this effect, first observed by Huygens in 1657, in detail. <blockquote>As one metronome's pendulum bob moves to the right, this pushes the base to the left (because of momentum conservation). The base moving to the left then pushes the other metronome's pendulum bob to the right---i.e. in the same direction as the first pendulum. Thus the slightly faster pendulum gives a kick (through the base) to the slower metronome causing the slower pendulum to speed up.</blockquote> Andy,

Skeptigator’s got the right idea. Here’s a page that talks about this effect, first observed by Huygens in 1657, in detail.

As one metronome’s pendulum bob moves to the right, this pushes the base to the left (because of momentum conservation). The base moving to the left then pushes the other metronome’s pendulum bob to the right—i.e. in the same direction as the first pendulum. Thus the slightly faster pendulum gives a kick (through the base) to the slower metronome causing the slower pendulum to speed up.

]]> By: Skeptigator http://freethoughtfortwayne.org/2008/05/13/get-your-physics-on/#comment-140 Skeptigator Tue, 13 May 2008 17:01:44 +0000 http://freethoughtfortwayne.wordpress.com/?p=80#comment-140 Why it happens? Good question. Clearly it has to do with the soda cans that the board is put on. You can notice that the cans move a little. My guess is that on the table the metronomes can't interact with each other but once placed on the cans the metronomes are able to sync their motions together. It also appears it takes a coupe of times before they sync for good which seems to me like their is some kind of "oscillation" in their motions before that go into "permanent" sync. Why it happens? Good question.

Clearly it has to do with the soda cans that the board is put on. You can notice that the cans move a little. My guess is that on the table the metronomes can’t interact with each other but once placed on the cans the metronomes are able to sync their motions together.

It also appears it takes a coupe of times before they sync for good which seems to me like their is some kind of “oscillation” in their motions before that go into “permanent” sync.

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