Gömböc, A Remarkable Shape That Automatically Rights Itself With Only Two Equilibrium Points
James of The Action Lab (previously) explained and demonstrated the Gomboc, a particular homogenous shape that relies on only two equilibrium points to automatically right itself. The design is so ingenious that three varieties of turtles have evolved their shells to a Gomboc shape.
... some turtles have evolved the ability to flip themselves over using nothing but gravity and
basically, what they've evolved is a turtle shell that looks like this. So if they get flipped over no matter how they land they can always right themselves ...Now there are only about three species of turtles that have evolved this way but it's amazing that they've evolved this exact same shape that mathematicians had to prove existed.
James also shared a pattern for 3D printing a Gomboc.
Related PostsA Look at the History of Movie Title SequencesJapanese Railroad Partners With Aquarium to Create Safe Passage for Turtles Crossing the TracksThe Natural Strategy Employed by Slow-Moving Sloths to Conserve the Most Energy PossibleRobot Turtles, A Programming Board Game That Lets Preschool Kids Control' GrownupsA Lively Tortoise Runs Freely Around a Pet Store With a Tethered Balloon Showing His LocationThree Minnesota Brothers Make Monumental Snow Sculptures in the Front Yard of Their Family's HomeFollow Laughing Squid on Facebook, Twitter, and Subscribe by Email.
The post Gomboc, A Remarkable Shape That Automatically Rights Itself With Only Two Equilibrium Points first appeared on Laughing Squid.