Chaotic Behavior in a Damped Driven Pendulum
Department
Physics
Major
Physics
Research Advisor
Story, J. Greg
Advisor's Department
Physics
Funding Source
Physics Departmen
Abstract
Chaotic behavior of a physical system is characterized by its unpredictability and extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. This type of behavior is prevalent throughout the universe, yet we likely don't expect it of simple systems like a pendulum. We show here that solutions to the theoretical model of a damped driven pendulum produce transcendental functions that are easily understood in small angle approximations, yet provide chaotic solutions if the angle is allowed to take all values. We then recreated this system physically to show that a system as simple as the damped driven pendulum would indeed produce unpredictable behavior, strongly dependent on initial conditions.
Biography
Jack Crewse, a physics major in his third year here at Missouri S&T, has always had a passionate curiosity for strange and unusual properties of the world. Currently investing research interest in the budding fields of topological insulating materials and fractional calculus, Mr. Crewse has spent his time at S&T working hard to meet his goal of someday becoming a full time research professor.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2014, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Chaotic Behavior in a Damped Driven Pendulum
Upper Atrium/Hall
Chaotic behavior of a physical system is characterized by its unpredictability and extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. This type of behavior is prevalent throughout the universe, yet we likely don't expect it of simple systems like a pendulum. We show here that solutions to the theoretical model of a damped driven pendulum produce transcendental functions that are easily understood in small angle approximations, yet provide chaotic solutions if the angle is allowed to take all values. We then recreated this system physically to show that a system as simple as the damped driven pendulum would indeed produce unpredictable behavior, strongly dependent on initial conditions.
