Oscillations and Waves > Oscillations > Nonlinear Systems
 DCS# 3A95.52
RANDOMLY OSCILLATING MAGNETIC PENDULUM
APPARATUS
randomly oscillating magnetic pendulum
 101-17-D-8

DESCRIPTION
The pendulum bob is a magnet.  There are disk magnets on the base, arranged so that some attract and some repel the pendulum bob.  Release the pendulum and it will follow an unpredictable path around the magnets on the base.

NOTES
 
A simulation can be found here:  http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ChaoticDynamicsOfAMagneticPendulum/

There is also a larger version (101-13-B) that can be used in the display case, with a coil and modified DC power supply to initiate the oscillations.