Chaos Lab

Tool

Driven damped pendulum

d²θ/dt² + γ dθ/dt + sin θ = A cos(ω t). The textbook 1-pendulum chaotic system. Scrub γ, A, ω to walk through the period-doubling cascade.

Pendulum

Phase portrait (θ, dθ/dt)

Driven, damped pendulum

d²θ/dt² + γ dθ/dt + sin θ = A cos(ω t)

A = 0:  pendulum gradually settles to the rest state θ = 0.
A small, ω near 1: small linear oscillations.
A larger (≈ 1.0–1.5), γ ≈ 0.5: period-doubling cascade to chaos
                                  (rotations + librations).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions