Synchronization of Metronomes

Five metronomes are set to 176 bpm and placed on a Foam Core board. When empty cans are placed underneath, the board is free to move from side to side and the metronomes are able to influence each other into synchronization. When the cans are removed the metronomes are no longer physically coupled and some of them begin to fall out of step.

Our demonstration is a copy of one that Bryan Daniels (Ohio Wesleyan University) made for his student research work: http://go.owu.edu/~physics/StudentResearch/2005/BryanDaniels/index.html

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• coupled oscillators
• phase space
• non-linear oscillators
• spontaneous synchronization
• Circadian rhythms
• menstrual cycles
• fireflies

[hotienaughtie]

is this related to S.H.M?

[NatSciDemos]

@hotienaughtie Yes and no. When isolated from each other, the metronome pendulums execute simple harmonic motion, since only the internal spring supplies the restoring force. But when they are coupled with the FoamCore board, each motion is complicated by the motion of the other metronomes, and so strictly speaking I don't think we can call it SHM at that point.

[alexandrempinto]

This is probably a very crazy and stupid question, but here it goes anyway: could there be somehow a parallel between this metronome synchronization effect and quantum entanglement of particles? I.e., particles become entangled = metronomes become synchronized? I know, I know, I keep getting these crazy ideas... and I don't really have a deep knowledge of quantum physics; physics was just a minor in my university undergraduate degree.

[NatSciDemos]

@alexandrempinto No quantum entanglement going on here. Just classical physics. The metronomes are coupled to each other by the board they're sitting on and the motion of one influences the motion of others. I'm not saying that the mechanism of synchronization is simple, but quantum entanglement is not the explanation.

[Thordalf]

It has a really simple explanation: after a couple of beers, agreement is achieved.

Not Physics, but alcoholism...

[NatSciDemos]

@Thordalf very cute answer

[MattyNice66]

I tried it with 5 digital metronomes and it didn't work. WTF was I doing wrong?

[tambourini]

Wow!  I love this!

[RoadRunnerLaser]

F****ng metronomes. How do they work?

;)

[EagleDarkX]

I like how they de-sync anyway in the end :P

[simhopp]

@superpiratepants

more of witchcraft than wizardry.

[superpiratepants]

WHAT MANNER OF WIZARDRY IS THIS?!

[ryansnider]

i can't stop smiling

[Luke123541]

funny to listen

[Blazenresearcher]

Awesome! yeah!