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Double Pendulum Laser Array Instrument

But with only one real pendulum.
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A double Pendulum system where the lower bob is suspended (via a ball joint to allow for 2 degrees of freedom) in a laser array (mesh) so that at any point it is interrupting 2 lasers, one longitudinal and the other latitudinal. It's position can be determined by which lasers it's interrupting. Each point has a preset (or randomly generated) tone and timbre so that once the pendulum is set in motion, the chaotic interference between the lower pendulum and the (to be described) upper pendulum causes seemingly random and ever changing patterns of sound.

The upper pendulum may a second pendulum suspended from a point above the pivot of the lower pendulum.

OR: [warning: idea within idea]

a Teflon coated paraboloid bowl attached to the shaft from the lower pendulum above it's pivot point (like a wine glass). Inside said parabola is a massive ball. The motion of the ball up and down the sides of the paraboloid would act as a second pendulum, exerting a force on the lower pendulum. I'm not sure the maths behind it or if that would work, but hey, it was an interesting idea for a double pendulum system.

bleh, Oct 17 2007

double Pendulum http://en.wikipedia...iki/Double_pendulum
[bleh, Oct 17 2007]

[link]






       Are you winding us up?
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       I'm not sure?
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       O so i' late, o'er there then?
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       um.... what?
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       Oscillation is the variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium). Here, between a position of gravitational potential and velocity.
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       Yes.... I understand that... did I violate that somehow? the second pendulum creates a complex (chaotic) oscillation due to interference. <linky>
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       search bakery for [xaviergisz], he has a similar dual pendulum. My comments are merely flippant and, hopefully, humerus. And yes ,for those pedants, I mean the bone to which are attached the dual pendulums of the ulna and the radius.
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       Like the xylophone, this instrument would not work in an environment devoid of gravity. How would initial state be set? Seconds spent positioning the lower pendulum might prove annoying to do every few seconds in a musical performance. [+]
ed, Oct 17 2007
  

       //search bakery for [xaviergisz], he has a similar dual pendulum//   

       could you be more specific? there's a lot 'o ideas there.   

       //How would initial state be set? Seconds spent positioning the lower pendulum might prove annoying to do every few seconds in a musical performance. //   

       Well, It's not necessarily meant as a performance instrument. It's more an experimental instrument to broaden the ear's experience. Sort of a musical muse.   

       But, if you insist, you could add an electromagnetic at the pivot point to drive the lower pendulum and inject energy back into the system at the crest of each oscillation. This is how Focault Pendulums keep going.
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       //O so i' late, o'er there then? //   

       HA! i just got it. though I think it should be 'o'er there men'
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       Thanks, bleh. One should always try and balance between obtuse and obsolete.
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       [xaviergisz] AND {balancing toy}.
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       I saw that one a while ago when it was posted. This idea has a fixed pivot so that no balancing is needed. the pendulum is hung from a steady base so that it does not topple over.   

       I did like that idea, even though it would never work.
bleh, Oct 17 2007
  

       //hopefully, humerus// balancing a bone there?
po, Oct 17 2007
  

       [po] Convinced myself, I seek not to convince. ~ Edgar A Poe.
4whom, Oct 17 2007
  

       must be a funny bone :)
po, Oct 17 2007
  

       I like it rather a lot. It would be an interesting sound installation piece, exploring the relationship between chance and equilibrium in the perception of ....   

       Hey, where's that grant application form?   

       A 3 axis accelerometer in the bob should give you enough position data that you don't need this laser array thingy.
BunsenHoneydew, Oct 18 2007
  

       but the laser array makes it such a cool visual piece.Of course high power green lasers would have to be used so they could be seen in daylight. Possibly a disco ball bob to shoot the lasers all over the room (with appropriate eye protection for everyone of course).   

       where *is* that grant application?
bleh, Oct 18 2007
  
      
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