Oddly satisfying 1m video of spontaneous synchronization

[Pluvious]

An ingenious demonstration of micro acceleration and deceleration forces at work...

[Phoenix61]

1. Yes it is! nt

[3catwoman3]

2. Can someone explain this to a non-physicist?

Quite intriguing - 🧐

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. I've passed this on to

My Son The Astronomer. His undergraduate degree was in physics. Maybe he can explain it.

[SeattleVet]

4. Here's a full episode with the explanation and some more examples...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Here's what My Son The Astronomer said.

I vaguely recall the phenomenon being discussed in undergrad classical
mechanics. It has something to do with how the metronomes are coupled to
each-other (note how the wood block is also moving back in forth), and
coupled harmonic oscillators tend to want to be at a very limited number
of frequencies.