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Physics

Synchronization of Metronomes

Quick fact

Christiaan Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock, first observed synchronization in 1665 when he noticed two clocks mounted on a common wall would settle into opposite phases. This effect is now known as 'entrainment' and occurs because even tiny vibrations through a shared support can couple the swinging pendulums.

Why this is interesting

Have you ever seen a row of metronomes start ticking out of sync and then magically fall into perfect rhythm? Why do they do that?