Dynamic Geomag: Chaos Theory Explained

A simple pendulum demonstrates Chaos theory. The pendulum ends in a south magnetic pole, attracted by the four coloured north poles below.

See some calculation algorythm details here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aldoaldoz/5807772894/

Versione italiana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDDGxM0m77I

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dynamic
• Geomag
• Pendulum
• Chaos
• Sissi

[OxyMoronMovies]

I think the cat is a genious.

At the end she looked like"silly humans...they still do not understand the nature of the universe!".

I could be wrong though?

[aldoaldoz]

@OxyMoronMovies: ... you're absolutely right! :-)

[SteffanLlwyd]

OK... big question.... is the social system (and organisations within it) chaotic too? Or more predictable and patterened? My MBA students would like to know. We can't really agree.

[aldoaldoz]

@SteffanLlwyd: of course social systems are chaotic too... it's enough to read newspapers!

[ChazyK]

can you make another video with higher number of points in the grid? like 4000x4000 i think, that fractal patterns could emerge

[aldoaldoz]

@ChazyK : 16 millions of starting points... a LOT of work to my poor computer! :-)

[aldoaldoz]

@xfactor330: A system is called chaotic when it amplifies the initial error conditions. You can't EXACTLY know the initial position of the pendulum... that is, with a precision of 0.00000000...0001 mm, so beyond a certain time the system will no longer be predictable. Another way to see the problem: in a computer you can't know the pendulum position with more than 64 bits of mantissa. Changing the value of the least significant bit is enough to get a different final result...

[chrispaquette]

There is no way to tell when the pendualem is at the exact same position as it was before. Ofcourse this will result in choatic numbers because the forumala is fucked up, hense chaotic.

[doyensahoo]

@aldoaldoz hey man, out of curiosity, how did you do the computer simulation. as in how did you define the path followed by the pendullum? Even if there is no distinct pattern, won't the same start point always yield the same color? I don't get how a computer simulation is possible.

[ophello]

@sneaeky

You're either joking or you're a complete idiot. This experiment isn't testing anything. It's illustrating the meaning of chaos.

[SteffanLlwyd]

@sneaeky I think the point is that forecasting is always defeated because even the tiniest variation in any of the variables you mention have BIG effects.

[SteffanLlwyd]

@aldoaldoz I agree. I use your vid with my university students. The point about Chaos theory is that miniscule differences in starting conditions have practically unforcastable effects on outcomes. My guess is that if you started the pendulum from a position that was moved from its initial startting position by the distance equivalent to no more than the radius of an electron, this could affect the outcome (where it comes to rest). If the social world is like this the implications are big!

[MrFunkehMonkeh]

maybe the cat was using its mental energy to give you the mixed paterns, lolcat

[ProgressiveScan9]

Have your program drop the pendulum at precisely the same location each time. The change in position will have an effect on where the pendulum lands. If you drop the pendulum and if it makes different results approximately every time, I will believe your idea.

[DeconversionCentral]

@sneaeky

BBC did a great documentary on the subject; " The Secret Life of Chaos". Enjoy!

[sneaeky]

@aldoaldoz I a better way of what I am trying to say is that tiny variations in this test can throw the results off and make you unable to find a pattern. If someone had instruments that could account for even small variations, then the outcome could be predicted. Yes, I agree this is a good demonstration of a chaotic system, but I don't feel it explains the Chaos theory well. In theory, everything in the future could be predicted if all variables would be accounted for. I poorly worded myself.

[aldoaldoz]

@sneaeky The model, made up with a toy, is only a way to show what the Pc program does. Be sure the program doesn't have problems neither with wind resistance, sismic activity, gravitational forces nor temperature; and that the locations are exact to the tenth decimal place. If I were you, I didn't feel the need to urgently throw out the Pc simulation results.