What causes things to vibrate?
May 3, 2004 7:38 AM Subscribe
What causes things to vibrate? [plus à l'intérieur]
OK, so what causes electronics, such as mobile phones, pagers, etc, to vibrate? My theory #1, is that there are two sets of coils, and a bar which is attached to the body of the item to vibrate. Alternate the current, and voila? Theory #2, is that there is some off-weight spinney-thing, which spins, causing the vibration. Google only returns naughty, not work safe items.
OK, so what causes electronics, such as mobile phones, pagers, etc, to vibrate? My theory #1, is that there are two sets of coils, and a bar which is attached to the body of the item to vibrate. Alternate the current, and voila? Theory #2, is that there is some off-weight spinney-thing, which spins, causing the vibration. Google only returns naughty, not work safe items.
I'm pretty sure it's all done with tiny little brooms.
posted by crunchland at 7:56 AM on May 3, 2004
posted by crunchland at 7:56 AM on May 3, 2004
Vibrating video game controllers use #2, I'm pretty sure.
posted by jpoulos at 8:35 AM on May 3, 2004
posted by jpoulos at 8:35 AM on May 3, 2004
A Dual Shock PlayStation controller has two motorized half-wheels one big and one small, in the left and right hand-grips to create the fast vibration and the slow but stronger vibration.
This is only tangentially related to your question, but it's not like I'm going to get the chance to bust out this little tidbit of trivia at a party.
posted by Capn at 8:41 AM on May 3, 2004
This is only tangentially related to your question, but it's not like I'm going to get the chance to bust out this little tidbit of trivia at a party.
posted by Capn at 8:41 AM on May 3, 2004
Best answer: i thought this was going to be a question on why inertial frames exist. :o(
anyway, here's a paper abstract on the design of vibration motors, a motorola reference to a MFT (Multi-Functional Transducer) and finally, this, my friends, the golden google-foo reference: Mechanisms of Vibration Motors.
oh, and MEMS seem to be too small for this, but it's an interesting article anyway.
posted by andrew cooke at 9:05 AM on May 3, 2004
anyway, here's a paper abstract on the design of vibration motors, a motorola reference to a MFT (Multi-Functional Transducer) and finally, this, my friends, the golden google-foo reference: Mechanisms of Vibration Motors.
oh, and MEMS seem to be too small for this, but it's an interesting article anyway.
posted by andrew cooke at 9:05 AM on May 3, 2004
Brownian motion. :)
I've pretty much assumed most were unbalanced flywheels on motors. A linear mechanism would be as or more effective, but a lot more prone to failure, I'd bet.
And, bah. Inertial frames? Child's play. Andrew, let's see your elucidation of the equivalence of accelerated frames.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:38 AM on May 3, 2004
I've pretty much assumed most were unbalanced flywheels on motors. A linear mechanism would be as or more effective, but a lot more prone to failure, I'd bet.
And, bah. Inertial frames? Child's play. Andrew, let's see your elucidation of the equivalence of accelerated frames.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 9:38 AM on May 3, 2004
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posted by uncleozzy at 7:46 AM on May 3, 2004