1M40.70 • Conservation of Energy: Chaotic Pendulum

Location: Cabinet 6

Photo shows the demonstration used at the University of Texas at Austin.

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Concepts Conveyed:

• When the pendulums are stabilized with the screw, both pieces oscillate with the same phase.
• When the screw is removed, the pieces oscillate with different phases, causing energy to be transferred between the two pieces or lost due to friction.

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Instructions / Notes:

• Simple pendulum: the pendulum will initially have a screw stabilizing both pendulums to move as one.
• Chaotic pendulum: with the provided Philips screw driver, unscrew the dark grey middle screw. Begin the system's motion by either starting the motion the same as a simple pendulum, or wrap the blue piece inside the black piece and release.

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Demo Staff:

• Clamp the demo to the table.
• Include a Philips-head screw driver with demo.

Last updated on February 24, 2025