Pendulum Waves (2010)

#1

Post by kp25 » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 1:08 AM UTC

Pendulum Waves (2010)
sciencedemonstrations.fas.harvard.edu

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#2

Post by aethr » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:16 AM UTC

Without analyzing it too much this seems to be a perfect visualization of the mathematics of music theory. The lengths of string become quite a direct metaphor for the wavelengths of notes on the music scale, and seeing them move together in progressively different "groups" of notes I imagine closely matches traditional chord structures in different keys.

Quite mesmerizing, and mathematically satisfying at the same time!

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#3

Post by avip » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:44 AM UTC

aethr wrote: post #2

Without analyzing it too much this seems to be a perfect visualization of the mathematics of music theory. The lengths of string become quite a direct metaphor for the wavelengths of notes on the music scale, and seeing them move together in progressively different "groups" of notes I imagine closely matches traditional chord structures in different keys. Quite mesmerizing, and mathematically satisfying at the same t…

For this analogy to hold you'd need the 8th ball thread x4 longer than the first, which is very far from the actual ratios used.

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#4

Post by mrob » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:45 AM UTC

aethr wrote: post #2

Without analyzing it too much this seems to be a perfect visualization of the mathematics of music theory. The lengths of string become quite a direct metaphor for the wavelengths of notes on the music scale, and seeing them move together in progressively different "groups" of notes I imagine closely matches traditional chord structures in different keys. Quite mesmerizing, and mathematically satisfying at the same t…

It's a closer analogy to the "beat frequencies" you get with constructive and destructive interference of waves of similar frequency. The envelope of the total amplitude of the pendulums oscillates with lower frequency than the amplitude of any individual pendulum.

I used Audacity to mix sine waves of the frequencies of the pendulums (51/60Hz, 52/60Hz, ..., 65/60Hz), multiplied by 440 to get them to audio frequency, and it sounds a lot like the UFO sound effect from the 1970s TV series "UFO".

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#5

Post by madelinw » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:48 AM UTC

I recreated this in CSS/JS a few years ago, inspired by this video.

https://codepen.io/madelinw/details/ocnCl

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#6

Post by hrayr » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:53 AM UTC

mrob wrote: post #4

aethr wrote: post #2

Without analyzing it too much this seems to be a perfect visualization of the mathematics of music theory. The lengths of string become quite a direct metaphor for the wavelengths of notes on the music scale, and seeing them move together in progressively different "groups" of notes I imagine closely matches traditional chord structures in different keys. Quite mesmerizing, and mathematically satisfying at the same t…

It's a closer analogy to the "beat frequencies" you get with constructive and destructive interference of waves of similar frequency. The envelope of the total amplitude of the pendulums oscillates with lower frequency than the amplitude of any individual pendulum. I used Audacity to mix sine waves of the frequencies of the pendulums (51/60Hz, 52/60Hz, ..., 65/60Hz), multiplied by 440 to get them to audio frequency,…

I'm very curious how that sounds, would you mind posting it somwhere?

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#7

Post by ms013 » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:58 AM UTC

Interesting to see this come up again. Here’s a small model for this system written in Haskell from a few years back:

http://syntacticsalt.com/blog/2011-08-27-harmonic-motion.htm...

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#8

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 2:59 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#9

Post by mrob » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 3:07 AM UTC

hrayr wrote: post #6

mrob wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a closer analogy to the "beat frequencies" you get with constructive and destructive interference of waves of similar frequency. The envelope of the total amplitude of the pendulums oscillates with lower frequency than the amplitude of any individual pendulum. I used Audacity to mix sine waves of the frequencies of the pendulums (51/60Hz, 52/60Hz, ..., 65/60Hz), multiplied by 440 to get them to audio frequency,…

I'm very curious how that sounds, would you mind posting it somwhere?

Posting on first Google result for "share short sound clip". I can put it somewhere else if you have a better suggestion.

https://clyp.it/rfu2x1kb

Re: Pendulum Waves (2010)

#10

Post by jkqwzsoo » Mon, Dec 17, 2018, 3:17 AM UTC

aethr wrote: post #2

Without analyzing it too much this seems to be a perfect visualization of the mathematics of music theory. The lengths of string become quite a direct metaphor for the wavelengths of notes on the music scale, and seeing them move together in progressively different "groups" of notes I imagine closely matches traditional chord structures in different keys. Quite mesmerizing, and mathematically satisfying at the same t…

Less the notes and scales themselves, and more polyrhythms and phasing. This reminded me of Steve Reich's Clapping Music, and similar phasing-heavy works (Piano Phase, Drumming, Music for Pieces of Wood, 6 Pianos/Marimbas, and Pendulum Music).