Iterating physics, codes and sound


by Runxin Zheng
Iteration1

PROVISIONAL DEFINITIONS

refining to get a singular desired output

Spring 1
Spring 7
Spring 9
Spring 12
Spring 14
Spring 25

Complete collection of iteration 1
Remaking the project Squishy Stack by Ivan Rudnicki has led me to reconsider how shapes are formed and the elements that construct shapes, such as nodes, vertices, and curves. For instance, an ellipse can be seen as numerous dots lining up in a circular direction. From there, I started exploring approaches to creating an oval shape, from using the ellipse object in p5.js to adopting different math equations to drawing with curves. Each approach offers certain possibilities while posing certain limitations. To recreate the disruptive effects in the original work by Rudnicki, I experimented with different methods to modify these ellipses, and one of the learnings I had was that shapes formulated by equations are more rigid than shapes drawn from connecting nodes and curves.

One of the technical difficulties in using p5.js is understanding JavaScript and its terminologies. Many functions in JavaScript originate from mathematics so I had to understand the rationale and the relevant mathematics behind each feature to use it properly or creatively.

What was unexpected about my iteration 1 was that this project involved not only JavaScript but also physics, drawing inspiration from the natural world. My coding iterations started with the movement of a spring, which involved many factors in Newton’s second law, including mass, forces, velocity, and acceleration. In the process, the visualisation of Newton’s second law enabled me to better understand physics as well as organic, natural motion graphic design.

In the next stage, I’d like to explore different physics equations from the NASA Glenn Research Centre in the p5.js environment. The iterations will be conducted by drawing ellipses and applying different physics formulas to these ellipses. Through the experiments, I’d like to answer the following questions:

  • What types of visual effects and reactions can these physical laws generate when written in p5.js? 
  • Do these physical laws always generate organic, natural movements? 
  • Can they also cause distortions or disruptions to shapes? Do these equations have different visualisations when applying different drawing methods?  
  • What are the limitations of using physics equations in a coding language that is designed for visual art?






INDEX  NEXT
MA Graphic Communication @ Central Saint Martins