Additive resonance in complex structures is an interesting topic for sure... often the competing dynamics results in a mish-mash that isn't too much of a problem, but sometimes, things come together to wreak havoc- as in the Tacoma Narrows Bridge- now there was some serious harmonic action! As for the Falcon...
Chewy and my brother Napoleon and I worked over the bridge on the MF a while back. The jump-drive initiator finally went totally ka-put (no matter how hard it was hit, the darn thing still wouldn't pop over). I found lots of old biosnax under the boards too... (Chewy's, though he'll rip your head off before admitting it). Anyway, all the red lights are now blue, the green ones are magenta, and the tiny yellow ones are now black (and mounted to a black panel- Hotblack gave 'em to me out at the end of the universe). Thanks for asking! :)
My pleasure :) The bridge thing is related - the concern with bridges (at least theoretically) has to do with causing the bridge to resonate- that is, to vibrate at a frequency where all the parts of the bridge are moving together (like the metronomes). The people provide the energy (in the metronomes, springs are the source of energy). If enough energy is fed into the resonating bridge, the mechanical stresses could become destructive. In practice, the mass of the bridge dissipates the energy before it can become a problem.
As for duplicating this without metronomes- if you can locate two or more mechanical clocks (or watches), just set them close together on a thin sheet of wood or even heavy cardboard, held up by cans (like in the video). Before long, they will be ticking in unison.
Each metronome produces a surge of energy as it's pendulum comes to a stop at each end of it's swing. This energy is transfered into the platform and travels through the platform and "couples" into each of the other metronomes.
Initially, these surges or pulses are out of synch and thus out of phase (the pulse is actually a wave with a positive and negative component). These waves interfere with each other, and at each metronome the result of the interference adds or subtracts energy from the metronome. This in turn changes the interference pattern, which in turn adds or subtracts a little more energy from each metronome. This continues until a balance of positive and negative forces is achieved, which just so happens to coincide with synchronous swinging of the metronomes.
Setting the rig on the table dampens the exchange of pulses and makes for little or no interference.
BTW, This phenomenon is seen in all sorts of oscillating systems- electronic and mechanical, and can be a big problem.
"no matter how hard you try to track the balloon’s skin retract it’s just too darn fast!"
Know as "instantaneous tear propagation". The same thing can happen to large inflated structures, too... like blimps. A blimp went down in NYC in the early 90's* because it's envelope was punctured-- the puncture occurred at the front-- and then almost instantly, a 40 foot rip opened up, causing rapid deflation. Oops.
Heh, back in the day, we had "Six Finger", and the jingle went, "Six-finger, Six-finger, man alive! How'd I ever get along with five?" Have a look: http://www.samstoybox.com/toys/Sixfinger.html
Chewy and my brother Napoleon and I worked over the bridge on the MF a while back. The jump-drive initiator finally went totally ka-put (no matter how hard it was hit, the darn thing still wouldn't pop over). I found lots of old biosnax under the boards too... (Chewy's, though he'll rip your head off before admitting it). Anyway, all the red lights are now blue, the green ones are magenta, and the tiny yellow ones are now black (and mounted to a black panel- Hotblack gave 'em to me out at the end of the universe). Thanks for asking! :)
As for duplicating this without metronomes- if you can locate two or more mechanical clocks (or watches), just set them close together on a thin sheet of wood or even heavy cardboard, held up by cans (like in the video). Before long, they will be ticking in unison.
Each metronome produces a surge of energy as it's pendulum comes to a stop at each end of it's swing. This energy is transfered into the platform and travels through the platform and "couples" into each of the other metronomes.
Initially, these surges or pulses are out of synch and thus out of phase (the pulse is actually a wave with a positive and negative component). These waves interfere with each other, and at each metronome the result of the interference adds or subtracts energy from the metronome. This in turn changes the interference pattern, which in turn adds or subtracts a little more energy from each metronome. This continues until a balance of positive and negative forces is achieved, which just so happens to coincide with synchronous swinging of the metronomes.
Setting the rig on the table dampens the exchange of pulses and makes for little or no interference.
BTW, This phenomenon is seen in all sorts of oscillating systems- electronic and mechanical, and can be a big problem.
Know as "instantaneous tear propagation". The same thing can happen to large inflated structures, too... like blimps. A blimp went down in NYC in the early 90's* because it's envelope was punctured-- the puncture occurred at the front-- and then almost instantly, a 40 foot rip opened up, causing rapid deflation. Oops.
* http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/1994/A94_157_160.pdf