Waves transmit energy, and they have a beautiful, curvilinear form.
All sound and most forms of energy travel through space as waves. Beautiful, undulating curves of waves enthrall us and create a delicate, repetitive dance across surfaces and fluids. Some artists and designers create sculptures that emulate the sinus motion of a kinetic wave with elaborate machines. You can create a kinetic wave sculpture using fluids, available in most households, or rotations in series using wheels available at hobby and home improvement stores.
Instructions
Fluid Kinetic Wave Sculpture
1. Pour vegetable oil into a glass container, filling half of the container's volume. Pour the oil into the container on a level surface.
2. Pour window cleaner into the glass container, filling the container to its top. Do not leave a gap or room for air.
3. Screw on the glass container's lid. Turn the container upside-down and ensure there are no air bubbles. If there are, open the container and add more window cleaner. When no bubbles remain, leave the lid sealed.
4. Rock the container of fluids back and forth to see flowing, kinetic waves.
Rotations-in-Series Kinetic Wave Sculpture
5. Bolt eight hobby or cart wheels to one side of the slotted steel bar. Ensure the wheels are evenly spaced and secure the axle bolts to the slotted steel bar with two nuts per bolt, on either side of the bar.
6. Bolt eight hobby or cart wheels to the opposite side of the slotted steel bar. Offset the wheels half the distance between the wheels on the initial side of the bar. Secure the axle bolts to the slotted steel bar with two nuts per bolt, on either side of the bar.
7. Draw sixteen radiating lines on each wheel, like slices of a pie. Orient each of the wheels so two of the lines are vertical.
8. Drill one wood screw 1/4-to-1/2 inch inside the edge of each wheel, successively drilling clockwise on the drawn lines as you drill the screws down the bar of wheels. When you are finished, each wheel should have one screw, which will be on a different line to the others. Ensure the wood screw does not interfere with the rotation of the wheels.
9. Cut 16 2-foot strands of fishing line and weight one end of each with a fishing weight. Tie one strand of line to each wood screw on the 16 wheels. Place the assembly on the 2-by-2 lumber, elevated above the floor between two tables or mounted between two vertical surfaces. When you roll the assembly along the lumber, the weights will undulate like a kinetic wave.
