Pendulum Art on a Spread sheet.

What is normally done using mechanical pendulums can also be done on a spread sheet. If the spread sheet also provides the slider function, this can provide much greater controls over the various pendulum parameters.

Step 1

The spreadsheet in OpenOffice does provide a working slider control which can set the value of a given cell.

Comments

[Light_Lab]

I built a real pendulum harmonogram when I was a kid and I tried many years ago to do the patterns in Excel. I could never get enough data sets in Excel though to make smooth lines. Nowadays In the lab we are always running out of data space with Excel so we use Origin.---- You have used a nice trick via the smooth lines function so you don't need as much data. The only problem is the curves are NQR when you get into some patterns. I one day I might try this in Origin.

[dsauer]

You might want to check out an open source program called SCILAB. I have a cheat sheet on how to use it here. http://www.idea2ic.com/PlayWithFink/scilab_Picture/SCILAB%20Templates.html This cheat sheet includes 25 lines of cut and paste text that will do a 3D plot. So the harmonogram can be done in 3D. I have long list of things I plan to do in 3D.

[Light_Lab]

Thanks for the lead seems like SCILAB is similar to MatLAB which I can get a company license for but takes some money from my budget. Looks like SCILAB is free I will definitely follow that up. Yes 3D harmonograms would be cool but don't over look the fact that you can mathematically model the vector sum of any number of pendulums in 2D or 3D; and use other functions than simple sines. Many things you cannot do with a mechanical harmonogram. BTW I once tried putting a loosely strung rubber band on one of the pendulums made a cool variation.

[dsauer]

The mechanical harmonogram looks like it would be fun to build. Its just that the internet puts us all in touch with a lot of fun things to do. Not enough time to do them all. But it is fun to see someone else doing them as an instructable.

[spiderfurby]

very clever - do you have more examples?

[dsauer]

For some reason I can't cut and paste here. My email is  [e-mail]. I can always send you an email.

[Light_Lab]

Paste into Windows Paint (under accessories); save as a BMP and then just use the Instructables image manager. Then you can add them to your article or emails.

[jordanqvo]

Cool! Help for my math class :)

[rachel]

This is a really cool idea but I don't understand how you made it. Can you explain more about what kinds of numbers go where on the spreadsheet, and how to get it to display the rendering?

[___]

yes it it confusing

[dsauer]

Step 4 shows the equation of cell G3. The "F3" term corresponds to time which is increasing such that cell G4 will have a "F4" term in its place. Anything which has a "$" term like ”$B$4" will remain constant for every cell in the "G" column. There are some really easy ways to set up relationships like this on a spreadsheet. I can make an instructable on how to do this if you like.

[wobblestar]

Very clever!