Chladni’s patterns
Already in the early eighteenth century it was found that by placing the powder on the membranes subjected to stationary vibration (that is constant over time), the powder was moving on the surface occupying special positions and forming really special patterns. In fact the powder, if it is subjected to the vibrations of the surface on which is disposed, tends to accumulate in the parts where the vibration is nothing. This empirical approach allows us to visualize the nodal lines of motion of vibration of the membrane, and the figures that are obtained are called Chladni’s patterns, in honor of the German physicist and musician who first studied their characteristics (Entdeckungen über die Theorie des Klanges 1787).
In this century, the study of these figures has been taken over by Cymatics (from the greek kymatika (κυματικά) meaning “study on the waves”) carried out by the Swiss doctor Hans Jenny with which he tried to demonstrate the morphogenetic effects of acoustic waves . However, regardless of the validity or otherwise of these theories, the result of these studies has generated complex structures of spectacular beauty.
Some examples
Using surfaces of various shapes, different types of substances (generally colored sand or ferromagnetic liquids) and subjecting them to different frequencies (generally stationary sounds but also melodies or generic noise) you can observe, from time to time, the nodal patterns assuming only one of the endless possibilities, and thus creating unique and spectacular patterns.
Also on YouTube there are many interesting videos. The most common is a metal plate which is subjected to vibration and covered with grains of sand. I chose this movie (of brusspup which also has many other interesting movies) because the original sound is replaced by music (the original sound can be deafening ….)
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Another example is this video (still brussup) that illustrates how Chladni patterns can also act in three dimensions. Running water is used as a means for creating 3D patterns.
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for example, a video of John Telfer shows the possible relationships between the Chladni patterns and music .:
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Finally I propose this video that mixes music and cymatics, practically a video summary of everything we’ve seen, Nigel Stanford, really appealing ….
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The CymaScope
Currently you can buy several tools that have been developed to visualize and measure the Chladni figures on camera or on PC. One in particular is the CymaScope that uses water as a means to achieve the figures. the water surface is subjected to sonic vibrations. This surface, precisely due to its particular surface tension, responds quickly to such stresses, creating the figures of Chlandi. Moreover, the characteristics of the water are such as to be able to vary the figures of Chlandi so very responsive to changes in stress, even with transient of a few milliseconds. This makes it currently the most suitable and cheaper for this kind of study.
Here are some images obtained through CymaScope. For example, here are the Chladni patterns corresponding to the human voice.
and these are the patterns generated by playing the musical scale on a piano.
Conclusions
From nature we have much to learn, even from the artistic point of view. For example, we could take advantage of these figures to make new designs and shapes. And if we considering the 3D patterns, replacing membranes with bodies? Volunteers? Ideas? 🙂
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