~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Laser Spirography Model | | (c) 1991 Chris Gadda, PCS-CEL | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What would happen if you fixed three round, rear-surface reflective mirrors to the shafts of three small motors and then was able to control the speed and direction of spin of those mirrors and then shoot the beam of a Helium-Neon Laser into these mirrors? This question and the 'real experiment' resulted in projected patterns that resemble those seen in spirographic toys. Pass the projected beam through an inverted bell jar filled with smoke and you can observe a 'living 3-D Holographic Projection'. In an attempt to explain the actual results, as well as establish both a mathematical and computer model of the 'real experiment,' Chris Gadda, Student, age 16, created this Simulation. In doing so he could control certain aspects of the experiment that, in reality, we could not because of the limitations of the materials we were using. What Chris has created is the 'perfect' Simulation. Here is a simplified comparison of the 'real' and the simulation: Description Real Experiment Simulation ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Reflective properties of mirrors Rear Surface Front Surface Quality of glass in the mirrors Flawed No Flaws Ability to tilt mirrors No Yes Ability to move motors No Yes Ability to 'slow' laser beam No Yes Ability to sync motors No Yes Adjust motor speeds Coarse Adjust Fine Adjust Adjust direction of motor spin Yes Yes Adjust projection distances Yes Yes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The 'true test' of the Simulation was to place it, side-by-side with the 'Real Experiment,' and attempt to prove that the Simulation was NOT a TRUE reflection of the Laws of Physics that were being demonstrated by the 'real thing'...To the surprise of everyone, the Simulation could duplicate the same patterns that were being created by the 'living laser' demonstration, and MORE, much more. So, for those who just want to 'play' with hypnotic spirographic patterns but don't have a Helium-Neon Laser handy or the other lab equipment laying about, we present you with this Simulation. For the scientific minded, student and teacher alike, who wish to study the effects of this laser experiment without the hastle of setting up the full experiment, we present you with this Simulation. For the programmers interested in how Chris did this, write and ask and he will share his Source. To ALL of you...Have FUN WITH IT :-) What follows is the Information and Description that Chris Gadda felt was necessary as part of this Archival Package. Patrick McShane ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Explanation... This program creates a real-time simulation To Use... To load Laser Spirography Model double-click on LASRSPIR.PRG from GEM. When loaded, the motor control panel will be displayed alongside the output window. To change the speed of a motor, left-click and hold on the corresponding slider. Release button when slider is at the desired position. To change the direction of a motor, left-click on the box containing 'CW' (clockwise) or 'CCW' (counter-clockwise) that corresponds with the motor to be altered. To view the pattern produced by the current settings, move mouse pointer into the output window. The mouse pointer will disappear and the simulation will begin. End the simulation by moving the mouse pointer outside the output window. The mouse pointer will reappear. Select 'Quit' from the 'File' menu to exit. Parameters... To change the settings of the special parameters of the model, select 'Parameters...' under the 'File' menu. A dialog box will appear allowing the changes to be made. The special parameters control the default (starting) positions of the motors, the angle at which each miror is mounted on its motor shaft, and the distances between mirrors. The mirror angles are given in degrees off of perpendicular. The distances are in relative units. For more information, see the file 'TECHINFO.TXT' included in this archive. Chris Gadda ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Superintendent Notation: I have played with different color combinations as set from the control.acc and here is a set that displays the patterns best: _____ _____ |003| |700| CONTROL.ACC ----- ----- Color Settings _____ _____ For |777| |444| MEDIUM ----- ----- RESOLUTION If you are a NeoDesk user like I am, here are the color settings that seem to work best: _____ _____ _____ _____ |000| |070| |006| |777| Color Settings for NeoDesk ----- ----- ----- ----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EOT