arXiv:cond-mat/0006423cond-mat.stat-mech
Physics of the rhythmic applause
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Abstract
We discuss in detail a human scale example of the synchronization phenomenon, namely the dynamics of the rhythmic applause. After a detailed experimental investigation, we describe the phenomenon with an approach based on the classical Kuramoto model. Computer simulations based on the theoretical assumptions, reproduce perfectly the observed dynamics. We argue that a frustration present in the system is responsible for the interesting interplay between synchronized and unsynchronized regimes
Clapping synchronisation is actually a well studied spontaneous occurrence, that just takes O(1) periods, see this article for some analysis: http://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0006423v1.pdf
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