A Double Pendulum, a.k.a. a Chaotic Pendulum, is a simple, jointed pendulum used to study dynamic systems/chaos theory. It’s also just a really cool widget that’s fun to watch.
Not to be confused, BTW, with Steve Jackson’s (of Steve Jackson Games fame) Chaos Machine, which is an entirely different mechanical animal.
The Chaos Machine (Double Pendulum) – Link
It would be neat to put an LED at the tip of the pendulum, turn off the lights, and film the path taken by the LED.
That’s one of the first things I thought of, too. I bet that’s been done, probably frequently. A great way to study motion is a chaotic system.
A second LED at the joint would be interesting too.
Cliff Pickover gave it the name.
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