Okay, perhaps the title here is a bit of an exaggeration, but this black hole lamp made by [Will Donaldson] is an interesting approach to creating a black hole simulation without destroying the earth. This lamp uses a ring of LEDs surrounding a piece of black Lycra. A motor in the lamp base pulls the Lycra, representing the distorting effect that a singularity has on space-time. It also demonstrates how black holes can (in theory) evaporate by emitting radiation, a phenomenon called Hawking radiation. It’s a simple, but effective approach that physicists have used to demonstrate gravity for some time, using stretch fabric to simulate space-time and show how gravity warps it. It’s a two-dimensional version of a three (or more) dimensional phenomenon, but it works. And, hopefully, it won’t swallow the planet and destroy us all like the real thing might.
It’s a bit bare-bones at the moment: although the copper pipes give it a certain steampunk feel, I would probably consider covering the mechanism with black material to focus more on the simulation itself. [Will] gives you the full details on how he built it (including parts, code and all) in the Instructable so it might be a good place to start if you are looking for a way to get your brain around the wild and wacky world of singularities.
Hmmm, wonder if the neighbors will notice if I build a black hole in the backyard?
Maybe for a fraction of a second or so.
BTW I’m almost sure that it’s against Apple’s ToS.
You win 1 Internet…
…oops, it got sucked into the black hole.
All that’s left is x-rays
Anyone else really frustrated by the almost absurdist need to put a stepper or servo into every project these days? for christ’s sake, it wasnt even automatic, he still turned a knob to draw the string in. you seriously couldn’t just wind it around a pulley?
Umwut? Did you watch the video? The string pulling is automatic and done by the little stepper he put in there.
The knob is only to adjust the brightness of the LED’s
The pot controls the intensity of the LEDs – the brighter they are the quicker the motor pulls the line; meant to represent the black hole growing faster because brighter LEDs = more matter to consume.
RIF.ORG – unless you enjoy the taste of your own feet. ;)
What irks me about the video clip, they don’t even bother to show the lamp head on!
*Jeff seconds this comment* I kept skipping around in the video looking for the money shot and got bupkis
Richard’s project looks nice, so I want to clarify: this comment isn’t about his work, but generally speaking.
everything today has a video, even the installation instruction for some network device i bought recently is on youtube.
Why? Why do so few see the gravity (hehe) of some really good photos and text?
a quality guide with dimensioned diagrams and/or code and commands goes a long way towards making a project reproducible for those who have lesser skills
Probably reaches more people this way, also easier to monetize maybe. I do agree that certain things are just better in text. Nothing is more annoying than watching a 4 minute video on YouTube explaining to to fix a computer setting thing which could have been accomplished in 10 seconds by 2 sentences. Extra points for YouTube videos of people just typing instructions into notepad in real time.
+1 watched it 3-4 times thinking i’d missed the shot…so frustrating
Hi, creator of the video here, thanks for the feedback! You are right, rewatching the video I focused too much on the stretching of the black fabric and neglected to demonstrate the true purpose of the lamp: to be used as a light source! (And in hindsight I probably should have placed the LEDs facing outwards instead of inwards for maximum brightness). I’ll keep it in mind for future videos to try encapsulating all elements of the projects functionality.
Or video 2.0 could show those changes…
All i see is a string pulling on black fabric, and they call it a “black hole” did anyone ever think do demonstrate the “Black Hole” effect? Exactly! “look what I made, a fabric stretcher! With lights! I’ll call it a Black Hole!”
Black holes would make great kitchen aids. It’s one heck of a garbage disposal. You would only need one normal size atom of matter. Since black holes are so dense.
But could you roast a turkey with the Hawking radiation?
Why doesn’t the video show the lamp? Mental. o_O
Why spitting an article for a video that does not even show the lamp ?
Why commenting on an article for a video that does not even show the lamp ?
Why the author got paid for an article for a video that does not even show the lamp ?
And why our time disappeared into this black hole ?
Same effect with 2 AA batteries, a couple resisters and a pull string?
Hello everyone he did not show the lamp because light cannot escape a black hole.