| Oscillations and Waves > Oscillations > Coupled
Oscillators |
DCS# 3A70.42 |
SYNCHRONIZED
METRONOMES
-
APPARATUS
five metronomes
|
202-13-D1 |
piece of foam core
|
202-13-D1 |
two pop cans
|
202-13-D1 |
DESCRIPTION
- Set the five metronomes to the
same frequency and place them on the foam core base. They will be
out of phase. Rest the base on the two pop cans and the now
weakly-coupled metronomes will become
synchronized within a minute or so. Place the base back on the
table and the metronomes will fall out of sync
again.
NOTES
Set the metronomes to
a high frequency (208 bpm) so they synchronize faster, and start with
them freshly wound.
The table should be clean and level so the cans are free to roll
smoothly.
Use stops to prevent the cans from rolling too far.
REFERENCE
"Synchronization
of metronomes," Am. J. Phys 70(10),
992-1000, James Pantaleone.
