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Just Thought I'd Mention This...

Posted by Akano Toa of Electricity , in Math/Physics Sep 17 2012 · 100 views

Acoustics Iridescence Rainbow Color Science

Science is awesome. I am currently reading a journal article about how people are making the acoustic version of iridescence. For those who don't know, iridescence is what certain insects, jewels, soap bubbles, and CDs exhibit as that rainbow effect that changes color depending on what angle it's viewed. The sonic or acoustic version of this is creating something that varies in pitch depending on the angle at which you stand relative to it.

Awesome.

Tekulo the WindWriter

Sep 17 2012 10:59 PM

... So in other words it DOESN'T involve liquid nitrogen...

Bummer... Those experiments are always COOL. (aha... AHAHAHA! I think I'm witty @w@)

Roxy Lalonde

Sep 17 2012 11:08 PM

i always wondered if there was a word for that effect!

i wonder if people will implement the acoustic version in actual music and how well theyll actually pull it off

Vorahk1Panrahk2

Sep 18 2012 12:25 AM

That sounds absolutely fascinating. What journal is the article from?

Half a Cup of EW

Sep 18 2012 01:06 AM

Science always makes me excited for the future. This is no exception.

Obsessionist

Sep 18 2012 07:12 AM

This could be annoying at concerts.

Akano Toa of Electricity

Sep 18 2012 09:07 AM

Tekulo: ...

Aho-Chan: No idea. If you could make the back wall of the concert hall like this, the effect would happen, but I don't know if that would be desired...

V1P2: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

Delicious Chocolate Milk: Hear, hear!

Lego Obsessionist. Depends on what the desired outcome of the music is. But, yes. XD

Also, my current research advisor told me that he knew of a place at his graduate institution where there was a cemetery with an iron fence. The fence had posts equally spaced apart. If you clapped (which, being a sonic impulse, has a wide frequency spectrum) you would get a "chirp" sound back at a frequency that was determined by where you were standing relative to the fence; very similar to the effect I explained above.

Again, awesome.

Tekulo the WindWriter

Sep 18 2012 10:25 AM

XD Sorry bro, you know how I get when I'm commenting AND sleep deprived.

Still, it sounds interesting... But, I'm not too sure what something like this could be applied to.

I now have a sudden urge for bubbles... be right back...

Akano Toa of Electricity

Sep 19 2012 10:34 PM

The article mentioned that, while optical iridescence is beautiful and pleasing to the eye, the acoustical analog is not so aurally pleasant.

There is a simulation of what this would sound like as you changed angle with respect to the surface reflecting noise on his blog, but seeing as it enables commenting, I probably shouldn't post it here.

About Me

Akano Toa of Electricity
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Name: Akano
Real Name: Forever Shrouded in Mystery
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Likes: Science, Math, LEGO, Bionicle, Ponies, Comics, Yellow, Voice Acting
Notable Facts: One of the few Comic Veterans still around
Has been a LEGO fan since ~1996
Bionicle fan from the beginning
Misses the 90's. A lot.
Twitter: @akanotoe