If you place those
32 metronomes on a rigid surface, they will continue to run out
of synchrony forever. If instead you place them on a moveable platform,
it will begin oscillating side to side with increasing amplitude until
the discordant rebels finally comply. There is probably a social behavior
parallel somewhere, but the more important principle at work is the
likening the system (metronomes + moveable platform) to a resonant circuit
with feedback. Surely someone reading this can supply an equation for
us that models the phenomenon.
RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools"
in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide
me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing
my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet)
was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity.
Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line,
and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...
