Fun with harmonic oscillation
So, I'm sitting here in the lab, trying to finish an article for publication. The deadline for this issue is June 1. We're frantically trying to get in more subjects and finish the paper.
Then we get an email saying that the deadline has been extended to July 15. Woo! Now I'm drinking a Corona and updating my LJ.
Since I'm in the lab, I'll tell you about a cool visual illusion that you can try at home! To see the illusion, you need:
This freaked me out a bit when I first saw it at around 2 in the morning. But it's ok, neither your monitor or your brain is melting. What you're seeing is a result of your head vibrating and the image on the monitor refreshing at similar frequencies. The image on the monitor is no longer at one place on your retina, but a whole range of places, because your eyes are vibrating. Your brain perceives this as motion - a phenomenon called "apparent motion." It's similar to watching a movie - still frames are presented in rapid succession and you "see" the motion.
For me, the effect is strongest when the toothbrush is on my upper canines. Also, I can get the digits on my clock radio to wave around as well. Theoretically, this would work on any non-flat-screen monitors, such as a TV, but I haven't tried it.
Let me know if it works for you. It is unclear whether this effect occurs with other vibrating household objects. Investigate at your own risk.
Then we get an email saying that the deadline has been extended to July 15. Woo! Now I'm drinking a Corona and updating my LJ.
Since I'm in the lab, I'll tell you about a cool visual illusion that you can try at home! To see the illusion, you need:
- an electric toothbrush
- a CRT monitor
- your head
This freaked me out a bit when I first saw it at around 2 in the morning. But it's ok, neither your monitor or your brain is melting. What you're seeing is a result of your head vibrating and the image on the monitor refreshing at similar frequencies. The image on the monitor is no longer at one place on your retina, but a whole range of places, because your eyes are vibrating. Your brain perceives this as motion - a phenomenon called "apparent motion." It's similar to watching a movie - still frames are presented in rapid succession and you "see" the motion.
For me, the effect is strongest when the toothbrush is on my upper canines. Also, I can get the digits on my clock radio to wave around as well. Theoretically, this would work on any non-flat-screen monitors, such as a TV, but I haven't tried it.
Let me know if it works for you. It is unclear whether this effect occurs with other vibrating household objects. Investigate at your own risk.