Oscillating figure

An oscillating body, comprising:

• a body including a curved surface adapted to enable the oscillating body to be in rolling contact with a support surface;
• wherein
• the oscillating body has a center of mass located substantially directly below the center of curvature of the curved surface when the oscillating body is in an at rest position on the support surface and free to roll;
• wherein
• the curved surface has a curve of contact extending at least about 10 degrees in at least one direction away from a point at which the curved surface contacts the support surface in the at rest position;
• wherein
• the curvature of the curved surface, when evaluated along the curve of contact within about 10 degrees from the point at which the curved surface contacts the support surface at the at rest position, results in stable center of mass travel;
• and wherein
• the coefficient of oscillation of the body is greater than about 0.05 and less than about 1.

An oscillating body, comprising:

• a body including a curved surface adapted to enable the oscillating body to be in rolling contact with a support surface, the body being adapted to have a frequency of oscillation for an initial angular displacement having a value selected between the range of about 1 degree to about 20 degrees given by the equation:
• freq
• =
• 0.5
• ⁢
• meters
• 1
• 2
• seconds
• ⁢
• c
• o
• ⁡
• (
• r
• )
• (
• I
• M
• )
• +
• r
• 2
• +
• c
• o
• 2
• ⁢
• r
• 2
• -
• 2
• ⁢
• r
• 2
• ⁢
• c
• o
• where
• I=a moment of inertia of the body,
• M=a mass of the body,
• r=a radius of curvature of the curved
• surface that contacts the flat support
• surface during the angular displacement, and
• co=a coefficient of oscillation of the body;
• wherein the coefficient of oscillation is greater than about 0.05 and less than about 1.