I have discovered a new way to animate images on mobile phones. I have long been interested in how some moiré patterns seem to appear and disappear when zebra-striped images are scrolled in a web browser or on a smartphone screen. Such effects depend on the speed of the scroll and the contrast, angle, and spacing of the stripes. By experimenting, I have been able to exploit this effect to create images that move from side to side or vibrate and shimmer frame to frame. Taking inspiration from barrier-grid (slit) animations, I have created hummingbirds, rolling rocking horses, and bouncing balls. The physics of the moiré patterns, and the creativity of the physicist, assist in the successful execution of this challenging new artform.

Topics
Bioacoustics of mammals, Space instruments, Planetary magnetic fields, Educator, Optical imaging, Physicists
1.
See for example “
Kinegrams, Art in Motion
,” https://www.giannisarcone.com/Kinegrams.html.
2.
See “
Moiré Pattern
,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moire_pattern.
Also,
Bruce
 
Bernero
, “
The moiré effect in physics teaching
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
27
,
602
(
Oct.
 
1989
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2342888
Crossref
Search ADS
Google Scholar
 
3.
Jordan
 
Kahn
, “
Forstall on inertial scrolling: Steve told Samsung ‘here’s something we invented. Don’t copy it. Don’t steal it
,’” https://9to5mac.com/guides/inertial-scrolling/.
4.
One of my students told me that this technique was used as an advertising logo: https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/23/7876777/sonos-sound-wave-logo.
© 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2020
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.