Difference between revisions of "Block"

From LifeWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(→‎Eater: Htrax)
m (fc=0.0)
(22 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Stilllife|name=Block|pname=block|c=4|bx=2|by=2|discoveryear=1970|discoverer=John Conway|life105=true|life106=true|plaintext=true|rle=true|synthesis=2|synthesisRLE=true|rulespecial=[[Conway's Game of Life|Conway Life]], [[HighLife]], [[Maze]]|rulemin=B/S3|rulemax=B345678/S012345678}}
{{Stilllife
'''Block''' is an extremely well-known and common [[still life]] that was found by [[John Conway]] in [[:Category:Patterns found in 1970|1970]]. In terms of its [[:Category:Strict still lifes with 4 cells|4]] [[cell]]s it is tied with [[tub]] as the smallest still life, and in terms of its 2×2 [[bounding box]] it is the outright smallest.  It is also the only known still life that is a [[Polyomino|polyomino]].
|name             = Block
|pname           = block
|c               = 4
|bx               = 2
|by               = 2
|fc              = 0.0
|discoverer       = John Conway
|discoveryear    = 1970
|rulemin          = B/S3
|rulemax          = B345678/S012345678
|rulespecial     = [[Conway's Game of Life|Conway Life]], [[HighLife]], [[Maze]]
|synthesis        = 2
|synthesisRLE    = true
|life105          = true
|life106          = true
|plaintext        = true
|rle              = true
|apgcode          = xs4_33
|pentadecathlonid = 4.1
}}
'''Block''' is an extremely well-known and common [[still life]] that was found by [[John Conway]] in [[:Category:Patterns found in 1970|1970]]. In terms of its [[:Category:Strict still lifes with 4 cells|4]] [[cell]]s it is tied with [[tub]] as the smallest still life, and in terms of its 2×2 [[bounding box]] it is the outright smallest.  It is also the only known still life that is a [[polyomino]], and the only still life where all cells have three neighbors.


Due to its small size, its ability to act as an [[eater]], and its simple [[glider synthesis|glider syntheses]], it is extremely useful in the construction of large patterns. It can be used as an [[induction coil]] as in [[block and dock]], [[block on table]] and [[griddle and block]].
Due to its small size, its ability to act as an [[eater]], and its simple [[glider synthesis|glider syntheses]], it is extremely useful in the construction of large patterns. It can be used as an [[induction coil]] as in [[block and dock]], [[block on table]] and [[griddle and block]]. It [[glider-block cycle|can also work]] as a [[reflector]] for two gliders via the [[interchange]] synthesis, as can be seen in [[106P135]].


It is also the most common still life (or any object at all) that occurs as a result of [[soup|random starting patterns]], occurring almost twice as often as [[beehive]], the next most common still life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwwhomes.uni-bielefeld.de/achim/freq_top_life.html |title=Most seen natural occurring ash objects in Game of Life |author=Achim Flammenkamp |date=September 7, 2004 |accessdate=January 15, 2009}}</ref>
The block was one of the patterns described in the original 1970 article by [[Martin Gardner]] that introduced the [[Conway's Game of Life|Game of Life]] to the world.


The block was one of the patterns described in the original 1970 article by [[Martin Gardner]] that introduced the [[Conway's Game of Life|Game of Life]] to the world.
==[[List of common still lifes|Commonness]]==
The block is the most common still life (and indeed object) that occurs as a result of [[soup|random starting patterns]]. In [[Achim Flammenkamp's census]] it occurred almost twice as often as [[beehive]], the next most common still life.<ref>{{citeAchim|accessdate=January 15, 2009}}</ref>; it is also the most common object on [[Adam P. Goucher]]'s [[Catagolue]].<ref>{{citeCatagolueStats|June 24, 2016}}</ref> It is also the most common object produced by [[2-glider collision]]s (six different ways).


==Eater==
==Eater==
 
There are multiple ways in which the block may act as an eater. These fall into roughly two camps, according to how the block will be regenerated (since the block's cells already have three neighbors, it cannot act as a [[rock]], except in special cases.). Oscillators such as [[blocker]], [[p56 B-heptomino shuttle]], [[queen bee shuttle]], [[twin bees shuttle]] and [[unix]] showcase mechanisms which leave a [[pre-block]], while the mechanisms seen in [[Coe's p8]], [[eater 5]] and [[octagon 4]] leave a [[grin]]. A different mechanism yet, where only a single cell of the original block survives the whole ordeal, appears in [[37P7.1]]. It has been seen eating [[mango]]s, [[boat]]s, [[loaf|loaves]], and [[beehive]]s.
There are multiple ways in which the block may act as an eater. These fall into roughly two camps, according to how the block will be regenerated (since the block's cells already have three neighbors, it cannot act as a [[rock]]). Oscillators such as [[blocker]], [[p56 B-heptomino shuttle]], [[queen bee shuttle]], [[twin bees shuttle]] and [[unix]] showcase mechanisms which leave a [[pre-block]], while the mechanisms seen in [[Coe's p8]], [[eater 5]] and [[octagon 4]] leave a [[grin]]. A different mechanism yet, where only a single cell of the original block survives the whole ordeal, appears in [[37P7.1]].


Some more complex eaters can be based on the block as well. [[Eater 2]] is a construction allowing a block to eat [[glider]]s: while the collision would normally destroy both, the addition of further still life(s) or [[inductee]]s allows the remaining three-cell [[spark]] to regenerate into a block.
Some more complex eaters can be based on the block as well. [[Eater 2]] is a construction allowing a block to eat [[glider]]s: while the collision would normally destroy both, the addition of further still life(s) or [[inductee]]s allows the remaining three-cell [[spark]] to regenerate into a block.
Line 19: Line 39:
*[[Bi-block]]
*[[Bi-block]]
*[[Blockade]]
*[[Blockade]]
*[[Bricklayer]]
*[[Blockstacker]]
*[[Blockstacker]]
*[[Grin]]
*[[List of common still lifes]]


==References==
==References==
Line 29: Line 48:
{{LinkWeisstein|Block.html}}
{{LinkWeisstein|Block.html}}
{{LinkLexicon|lex_b.htm#block}}
{{LinkLexicon|lex_b.htm#block}}
*[http://home.interserv.com/~mniemiec/still.htm#4-bit%20still Four-bit still lifes] by Mark Niemiec
{{LinkCatagolue|xs4_33}}
{{LinkNiemiec|p1.htm#p1-4|patternname=The 2 four-bit still-lifes}}
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/october1970.html The fantastic combinations of John Conway's new solitaire game "life"] by Martin Gardner
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/lifepatterns/october1970.html The fantastic combinations of John Conway's new solitaire game "life"] by Martin Gardner


[[Category:Eaters]]
[[Category:Eaters]]
[[Category:Patterns with D4 symmetry]]
{{Symmetry|full}}
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 18:00, 1 September 2018

Block
x = 2, y = 2, rule = B3/S23 2o$2o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ THUMBSIZE 3 ZOOM 21 HEIGHT 400 SUPPRESS ]]
Pattern type Strict still life
Number of cells 4
Bounding box 2 × 2
Frequency class 0.0
Discovered by John Conway
Year of discovery 1970

Block is an extremely well-known and common still life that was found by John Conway in 1970. In terms of its 4 cells it is tied with tub as the smallest still life, and in terms of its 2×2 bounding box it is the outright smallest. It is also the only known still life that is a polyomino, and the only still life where all cells have three neighbors.

Due to its small size, its ability to act as an eater, and its simple glider syntheses, it is extremely useful in the construction of large patterns. It can be used as an induction coil as in block and dock, block on table and griddle and block. It can also work as a reflector for two gliders via the interchange synthesis, as can be seen in 106P135.

The block was one of the patterns described in the original 1970 article by Martin Gardner that introduced the Game of Life to the world.

Commonness

The block is the most common still life (and indeed object) that occurs as a result of random starting patterns. In Achim Flammenkamp's census it occurred almost twice as often as beehive, the next most common still life.[1]; it is also the most common object on Adam P. Goucher's Catagolue.[2] It is also the most common object produced by 2-glider collisions (six different ways).

Eater

There are multiple ways in which the block may act as an eater. These fall into roughly two camps, according to how the block will be regenerated (since the block's cells already have three neighbors, it cannot act as a rock, except in special cases.). Oscillators such as blocker, p56 B-heptomino shuttle, queen bee shuttle, twin bees shuttle and unix showcase mechanisms which leave a pre-block, while the mechanisms seen in Coe's p8, eater 5 and octagon 4 leave a grin. A different mechanism yet, where only a single cell of the original block survives the whole ordeal, appears in 37P7.1. It has been seen eating mangos, boats, loaves, and beehives.

Some more complex eaters can be based on the block as well. Eater 2 is a construction allowing a block to eat gliders: while the collision would normally destroy both, the addition of further still life(s) or inductees allows the remaining three-cell spark to regenerate into a block.

Since the block is the most common object to emerge from soups, it is also the most common object to show transparent debris effect. Several larger oscillators including p54 shuttle, 78P70, 47P72 and Achim's p144 are examples. A particular reaction with a B-heptomino is commonly used in the construction of Herschel tracks.

See also

References

  1. Achim Flammenkamp (September 7, 2004). "Most seen natural occurring ash objects in Game of Life". Retrieved on January 15, 2009.
  2. Adam P. Goucher. "Statistics". Catagolue. Retrieved on June 24, 2016.

External links

Template:LinkWeisstein