Toad
Toad | |||||||
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Pattern type | Oscillator | ||||||
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Number of cells | 6 | ||||||
Bounding box | 4 × 4 | ||||||
Period | 2 | ||||||
Mod | Unknown | ||||||
Heat | 8 | ||||||
Volatility | Unknown | ||||||
Strict volatility | Unknown | ||||||
Discovered by | Simon Norton | ||||||
Year of discovery | 1970 | ||||||
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Toad is a period 2 oscillator that was found by Simon Norton in May 1970. It is the second most common naturally-occurring oscillator, although blinkers occur more than a hundred times as frequently.[1] It is also one of very few known oscillators that is a polyomino in one of its phases. Toads often appear in large, complex patterns because of their ability to eat things when paired together (as in killer toads). Additionally, toads are useful as building blocks for constructing large oscillators with periods that are a multiple of two because of the various ways in which they can be hassled.
Toad flippers
A toad flipper is a hassler that works by having two domino sparkers (pentadecathlons in the example shown below) apply their sparks to the toad in order to flip it over.[2] When the sparks are applied again, the toad is flipped back. Either or both domino sparkers can be moved down two cells from the position shown and the toad flipper will still work, but because of symmetry there are really only two different types of toad flippers. For another example of a toad flipper, see 186P24.
Toad suckers
A toad sucker is a toad hassler that works by having two domino sparkers (pentadecathlons in the example shown below) apply their sparks to the toad in order to shift it.[3] When the sparks are applied again, the toad is shifted back. Either or both domino sparkers can be moved down two cells from the position shown and the toad sucker will still work, but because of symmetry there are really only three different types of toad suckers.
Additionally, moving toad suckers have been created that use the domino sparks from two parallel dragons to escort a toad at one-sixth of the speed of light.
See also
References
- ↑ Achim Flammenkamp (September 7, 2004). "Most seen natural occurring ash objects in Game of Life". Retrieved on January 15, 2009.
- ↑ Stephen Silver. "Toad-flipper". The Life Lexicon. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.
- ↑ Stephen Silver. "Toad-sucker". The Life Lexicon. Retrieved on May 16, 2009.
External links
- Toad at the Life Lexicon