Cymatics Lab visualizes Chladni plate vibration patterns — the geometric figures formed by particles on a resonating surface. When a flat plate is vibrated at specific frequencies, particles migrate to nodal lines (regions of zero displacement), revealing intricate symmetric patterns that depend on the vibration mode.
The shader computes Chladni patterns using the mathematical eigenmode solutions for a vibrating plate. By superposing different modal frequencies, the visualization produces the characteristic line patterns that Ernst Chladni first demonstrated in the 18th century by bowing metal plates covered with sand.
Interactive controls allow adjustment of frequency, amplitude, and mode numbers (m, n) to explore the full space of possible Chladni figures. The transition between modes is animated smoothly, revealing how pattern complexity increases with higher harmonics.