Magnetic Chaotic UFO Pendulum

These chaotic UFO pendula are still available on eBay: The Visitor UFO 

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Magnetic Chaotic UFO Pendulum: The ufo in this vintage 1997 toy is a pendulum bob with an attached magnet and the base has a battery and simple coil circuit that gives the bob a tiny push each time it swings through the center. An array of 5 permanent magnets are also hidden in the wood base and these magnets produce the chaotic motion- not random, but very sensitive to slight differences in initial launch conditions. A clever design feature connects the pendulum to the top mount with yet another magnet, and this sharp contact point greatly reduces friction such that a fresh 9V battery in the base will keep the pendulum in motion for many days. Sold as “The Visitor” by DaMert Company out of Berkeley CA 1997. 

The Perpetual Pendulum

Get this well crafted device here:

From Etsy: BUY NOW: The Perpetual Pedulum

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The Perpetual Pendulum: scientific kinetic art featuring the demonstration classic “simple pendulum” of a mass at the end of a string, made famous by Galileo who first noted the mathematical regularity of such systems. In this device the mass is also a magnet, and four AA batteries and a simple electromagnetic kicker circuit in the base gives a tiny push to the magnet upon each swing (making a slight click sound), compensating for energy dissipated by friction- and keeping the system in motion for many months! I’ve modified my device with pegs that alter the length to the rotation axis- note the mass still achieves equal height on both sides (conservation of energy). Designed and produced by Wylie Wisnewski.

 

Magnetic Braking Pendulum

Get a chunk of pure copper here:

From Amazon: BUY NOW: Copper for Magnetic Braking Pendulum

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Magnetic Breaking Pendulum: The moving magnetic field from the swinging magnet produces electric currents in the copper- these currents then produce magnetic fields that oppose the motion of the moving field, a specific application of Faraday’s law of induction called Lenz’s Law. So a moving magnet makes the copper slab briefly into an electromagnet that creates a field that opposes the pendulum’s motion. Note that if the copper slab is pulled away from the hanging magnet, the magnet tries to follow or oppose the motion of the slab as well. 


Double Ring Chaotic Pendulum

Get a similar pendulum from the same maker here:

From ETSY: BUY NOW: Double Ring Chaotic Pendulum

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Chaotic Double Ring Pendulum: a new design on the chaotic double pendulum. Interesting and intricate motion arises from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the kinetic energy of the system moving back and forth between the two rings until friction damps away the energy. Chaotic motion is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. This exceptional design by Jason of Milieu Tech Design seems engineered to maximize the exchange of energy between the rings. 

Chaotic Triple Pendulum

Availalble here (some fun assembly required):
From Kontax Ltd.: BUY NOW: Chaotic Pendulum Kit

See also this very nice, fully assembed, double pendulum: 
From Etsy: BUY NOW Double Chaotic Pendulum 

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Chaotic Triple Pendulum: the intricate dance of chaotic motion from an assembly of three physical pendulums, shown here (partly) in 120 fps slow motion, where the energy imparted to the system moves back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion until eventually damped out via friction. Chaotic motion is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. A second of many configurations possible with this extraordinary design by Kontax Engineering Ltd.


Chaotic Double Pendulum with Ring

Availalble here:

From Grand Illusions Ltd.: BUY NOW: Chaotic Pendulum Kit

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Chaotic Double Pendulum with Ring: the intricate dance of chaotic motion from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the energy of the system moving back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion. Chaotic motion is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. Another extraordinary design by Kontax Engineering Ltd.

Stop & Go Pendulums

This vintage device was produced in the 1980s but similar devices are not hard to build. Here are (somewhat hard to find) steel balls with holes that will work nicely to construct pendulums: 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Drilled Spheres 

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See my other physics toys featuring pendulums

Stop & Go Pendulums: a vintage desk toy from the 1980s that features a set of coupled pendulums for which kinetic energy transfers between the pendulums in a dramatic and cyclic way. The design is very simple- the pendulums are identical in size and mass and hang connected to the same strand of string. (Try making your own!) The pattern of stop and go repeats until the initial energy is dissipated by friction. This device was sold as the “Magic Motion” desk toy by Newton Products Corporation in New York.

Mag Flip Inverted Pendulum Fidget

Available from this fine vendor:

From Etsy: BUY NOW: Mag Flip Desk Toy

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Mag Flip Inverted Pendulum Fidget: three embedded neodymium magnets provide tactile repulsive forces in this simple but intriguing system. Pressing down on one side increases the magnetic potential energy that will then send the pendulum into frantic motion until the kinetic energy is damped out after a series of oscillations. This fidget can also be used as a random coin flip with respect to which side it will land. 

 


Chaotic Decision Pendulum

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From Amazon: BUY NOW: Chaotic Decision-Aider Pendulum

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Chaotic Decision Maker Pendulum: adding magnetic forces to gravity gives this comical pointing pendulum chaotic motion- not random, but very sensitive to slight differences in initial launch conditions. Each “choice” has a dipole magnet underneath which attracts a magnet in the hand and locks the pointer into place, but only after enough kinetic has been dissipated, and until that final state is obtained the motion is chaotic. Fun physics behind this novelty gag gift.

Pendulum Snake

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From Amazon: BUY NOW: Pendulum Snake

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Pendulum Snake: 15 independent swinging pendulums, each with a slightly longer period than the one to its left side, create mesmerizing wave patterns. As the pendulums get further out of phase with each other the waves become shorter and faster. 

Triple Pendulum Chaotic Fidget 

Get this chaotic fidget spinner here:

From Amazon: BUY NOW: Triple Pendulum Spinner

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Triple Pendulum Chaotic Fidget: This interesting spinner is made from stainless steel and features three physical pendulums each mounted with their own low friction bearing. In slow motion one can see the kinetic energy and angular momentum is transferred from one pendulum to another as the entire device rotates, with some spinning rapidly and others rotationally at rest- the intricacies chaotic motion, characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time.


Glow Trace Chaotic Pendulum Kit

This kit (usually part of a subscription) often available here:
Get amazing quatilty science kits delievered to your home- this glow pendulum is part of the Tinker Crate subscription. 
From KiwiCo: LEARN MORE: Tinker Crate Subscription

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Glow Trace Chaotic Pendulum: this fun and amazing DIY kit features a UV diode to trace the intricate path of this double pendulum system on to a phosphorescent screen, revealing the physics of chaotic motion. It’s amazing that such complex motion can arise from a simple assembly of two pendulums, one attached to the end of the other. Chaotic motion, such as that observed here, is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. 

 

Pendulum Clock

Affordable gravity powered pendulum clocks available here in a number of styles:

From Amazon: BUY NOW: Pendulum Clock

The version featured in the video is the: Hermle Ravensburg Clock

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Gravity Powered Pendulum Clock: invented in 1656 by Christian Huygens, the physics properties of a swinging pendulum was the basis of all precision clocks until the 1940s. As noted by Galileo, the period of swing of a pendulum can be made very precise and stable depending only on its length. This modern version is made faithfully in the original design powered only by gravity as the potential energy of the descending weight is transferred to the kinetic energy of the drive train gears and pendulum. The key feature of any pendulum clock is the anchor escapement mechanism- a curved piece attached to the pendulum with two prongs that only allows the escapement wheel to move forward one tooth per swing cycle, and producing the characteristic “tick-tock” sound. The weight descends about 1 cm per hour, and when hanging from a wall the chain needs to be pulled once a week, raising the weight up about 2 m to keep the clock in operation. This beautiful clock, made by Hermle, features a chime that sounds upon the hour. 

Chaotic magnetic Pendulum

These chaotic pendula are still available on eBay. 

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Chaotic Magnet Pendulum: adding magnetic forces to gravity gives this pendulum chaotic motion- not random, but very sensitive to slight differences in initial launch conditions. The second half of this video features a particular launch path that begins with a semi-stable orbit but then goes chaotic, captured with an attached LED and recorded with a slow shutter app. Arranging the dipoles magnets on the base leads to different patterns of motion- here white attracts and black repels. This vintage device is from the 1970s and was sold by the name “Krazy Leg” by Rathcon Inc. 


Double Pendulum 

Here is a similar double pendulum curetnly available on KS. Order some chaos today!

From KickStarter: ORDER NOW: the orb drop dp

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Double Pendulum: chaotic motion from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the energy of the system moving frenetically back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion. Chaotic motion is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. This double pendulum was made by Doug Cvelbar (minicastings.com) where bearings were used at the pivot points to minimize fiction so that the energy takes many minutes to dissipate. 

Magnetic Chaotic Pendulum

Currently available here: From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Chaotic Pendulum 

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Magnetic Chaotic Pendulum: adding magnetic forces to gravity gives this pendulum chaotic motion- not random, but very sensitive to slight differences in initial launch conditions. Arranging the dipoles magnets on the base leads to different patterns of motion- here the center magnet attracts and the rest are set to repel. ROMP pendulum by Hog Wild toy company. 

Wilberforce Pendulum

Classroom demonstration models are available here 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Wilberforce Pendulum Apparatus 

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Wikipedia has a good introduction to the physics: Wilberfocre Pendulum 

Wilberforce Pendulum: the mass and spring properties of this device are tuned such that the kinetic energy transfers back and forth between bouncing and twisting in this special coupled harmonic oscillator system invented by physicist Lionel Wilberforce in 1896. If any system is free to oscillate in two or more ways, the energy can transfer between the different modes- note that the bouncing completely stops for a bit, and then the twisting briefly stops- and back and forth with a period of energy transfer at about 15 seconds between the bounce mode and the twist mode. Here the mass and rotational inertia (altered by moving the four small masses in and out) are adjusted so that the resonance frequency of twisting is equal to the resonance frequency of bouncing. This system will complete up to 5 cycles (from rotation only to bounce only and back) before the energy is dissipated.