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Future Oscillator Competition: A Blazing Vibrator and a Modern Spin on the Traditional Candle Clock

Clocks made with candles were once a simple method to create a timepiece, bypassing intricate mechanical components; the rate at which a thin candle melts could be tracked, a duplicate candle marked with consistent intervals, then used to measure time.

Future Oscillator Competition: A Blazing Vibration Source and a Novel Approach to the Traditional...
Future Oscillator Competition: A Blazing Vibration Source and a Novel Approach to the Traditional Candle Clock

Future Oscillator Competition: A Blazing Vibrator and a Modern Spin on the Traditional Candle Clock

In a groundbreaking development, [Tim] has shown that there are alternative methods for keeping time with a flame beyond the traditional candle clocks. This innovation, a flicker-based oscillator, offers a unique blend of traditional candle clocks and modern electronics, creating a captivating physical oscillator based on flame flicker.

Candle clocks, the first candle-based timekeeping devices, were simple timers based on the speed of a candle's burn. However, [Tim]'s project takes a different approach, using an artificial candle as an oscillator in a different project. The result is a blinking LED that is unusually mesmerizing.

The heart of the system is a wire placed near the flame. As the flame flickers, the wire intermittently contacts the flame or experiences fluctuating capacitance due to the different dielectric properties of the flame versus air. A microcontroller, such as the CH32V003, measures these capacitance changes or the phototransistor output, processes the signal to isolate the flicker oscillations, counts them, and then uses this timing information as a clock input to control peripheral devices like an LED blinking at 1 Hz, synchronized with the candle flicker frequency.

The science behind using candles for timekeeping originates from the historical practice of candle clocks, where a candle’s consistent burn rate provided a crude but reliable way to measure time intervals. However, instead of measuring burn length over hours, the rapid flicker oscillations caused by the physics of combustion in candle bundles provide a high-frequency, reproducible oscillation that can be electronically detected and used to generate a timing reference.

When multiple candles are brought close together, their flames interfere with each other and flicker in synchrony. This synchronization is crucial, as the frequency of flickering for a bundle of three candles is a function of gravity and flame diameter. In [Tim]'s case, the bundle of three candles flickered at approximately 9.9 Hz.

The design of a candle's wick affects the amount of flickering in the flame. Modern candles minimize flickering by using a wick that balances wax and air intake. [Tim]'s design takes advantage of this principle, using a bundle of three candles to create a stable, high-frequency oscillation.

This method demonstrates an elegant solution to sense the oscillation of the candle flames, using a wire above the flame that would intermittently contact with the flickering. The dielectric constant of a flame is different from that of air, causing a fluctuation in the capacitance between the wire and another wire wrapped around the bundle of candles.

In conclusion, candle flickers serve as a natural oscillator because of their stability, synchronization, and the ability to be sensed electronically. This method offers a fascinating glimpse into the science of candles and the potential for future applications in timekeeping and beyond.

References: [1] [Tim]'s Blog Post [2] Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter [3] IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science [5] The Journal of Chemical Physics

Science and technology are integrated in [Tim]'s project, as he developed an oscillator that utilizes the flicker of a candle flame. Instead of traditional methods of measuring a candle's burn length, this oscillator captures the high-frequency, reproducible oscillations caused by the physics of combustion, using the data to synchronize the blinking of an LED at 1 Hz. This novel approach combines the historical practice of candle clocks with modern electronics, showcasing the potential for unique applications in both timekeeping and beyond.

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