# Cymatics ## 📝 Summary Cymatics studies visible sound and vibration, typically on the surface of a plate, diaphragm, or membrane. It is a subset of modal vibrational phenomena and is named after the Greek κῦμα (kyma), meaning "wave". Hans Jenny (1904-1972), a Swiss follower of the philosophical school called anthroposophy, coined the term. ### ☝️ Key points - Cymatics is the study of visible sound and vibration - It is a subset of modal vibrational phenomena - The term was coined by Hans Jenny, a Swiss follower of anthroposophy ## 📑 Content ### History The study of the patterns produced by vibrating bodies has a long history, dating back to Galileo Galilei in the 17th century. Ernst Chladni, a German musician and physicist, is the father of cymatics. In 1787, Chladni published his book "Entdeckungen über die Theorie des Klanges" (Discoveries in the Theory of Sound), which included his pioneering work on visualizing sound vibrations. ### Chladni Plates Chladni's most famous experiment involves drawing a bow over a piece of metal whose surface is lightly covered with sand. The plate is bowed until it reaches resonance when the vibration causes the sand to move and concentrate along the nodal lines where the surface is still, outlining the nodal lines. Chladni patterns emerge as different vibration modes are reached, each producing its characteristic pattern. ```mermaid graph LR A[Vibration Source] --> B[Plate] B --> C[Sand] C --> D[Chladni Patterns] ``` Diagram description: The vibration source causes the plate to vibrate, moving the sand on the plate's surface and creating Chladni patterns. ### Applications Cymatics has found applications in various fields, including: - Music visualization - Art and design - Scientific research (e.g., studying the behavior of materials under vibration) - Alternative medicine (e.g., vibrational therapy) ## 🎓 Resources ### Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymatics ### Videos            ### Books ![[Cymatics_A_Study_of_Wave_Phenomena_&_Vibration.pdf]] ## 🔗 References - Jenny, H. (1967). Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena and Vibration. Macromedia Press. - Chladni, E. F. F. (1787). Entdeckungen über die Theorie des Klanges (Discoveries in the Theory of Sound). Leipzig: Weidmanns Erben und Reich. ### Further reading - [Cymatics: A Short Introduction](https://cymascope.com/cymatics-intro/) - [A Commentary on Cymatics](https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_cymatics01.htm) ### Backlinks [[Sound]] [[Vibration]] [[Resonance]] [[Modal Analysis]] [[Anthroposophy]] [[240502182019 - Sierpiński Triangle]]