Synapse Drip · generative art
Shifting Sand Figure
A square plate is shaken in modes 3.69 and 10.46, so its height is cos(n pi x) cos(m pi y) minus a weight times cos(m pi x) cos(n pi y), and the weight swings slowly; the plate is split into two flat tones along the still lines, so the figure keeps re-forming as the pitch is swept.
Hearted by 1 person in the Gallery.
The mathematics
- The height of a square plate in this mode is cos(3.69 pi x) cos(10.46 pi y) minus a weight times the same with n and m swapped; the sand lies where that sum is zero, so a mode with higher n and m has more nodal lines and a finer pattern.
In art
- The patterns look designed but are found: nothing draws a line, and the symmetries come from the shape of the plate and the frequency alone.
Made with Chladni plate.
Piece 7cd78fd1532a0c96