A Study of Chaos
To test the theory of chaos, an experiment using a pendulum and magnets was performed. The hypothesis was a small change in initial conditions can lead to a much larger change in the final results.
First, a circle was drawn. Directly above the center point, a pendulum made with a metal nut hung from the ceiling. Around the center point, four magnets were placed each at an equal distance from the center point. Each magnet was a different color: red, blue, green or yellow.
The pendulum was pulled back to a location and let go of. This was done for every degree marked on the circle. The result of the magnet that the pendulum stopped over for each degree was recorded. These results were then analyzed.
The outcome was very interesting. It was found that there were zones of each color in certain areas, and sometimes in the middle of the zone, a different color would just randomly show up. There were also a few areas where there are no apparent zones and there is one swing of each color right next to each other.
From this experiment, the conclusion has been drawn that a very slight change in the beginning conditions can make a vast difference in the outcome. The change in the starting position for the next swing each time was only one tiny degree, yet the results varied greatly.
Kelly G
This project was awarded a Meritorious