Nonlinear dynamics and chaos: Lab demonstrations

Abstract

This video shows six laboratory demonstrations of chaos and nonlinear phenomena, intended for use in a first course on nonlinear dynamics. Steven Strogatz explains the principles being illustrated and why they are important. The demonstrations are: (1) A tabletop waterwheel that is an exact mechanical analog of the Lorenz equations, one of the most famous chaotic systems; (2) A double pendulum, a paradigm of chaos in conservative systems; (3) Airplane wing vibrations and aeroelastic instabilities, as exemplars of Hopf bifurcations; (4) Self-sustained oscillations in a chemical reaction; (5) Using synchronized chaos to send secret messages; and (6) Composing musical variations with a chaotic mapping. Strogatz is joined by his colleagues Howard Stone, John Dugundji, Irving Epstein, Kevin Cuomo, and Diana Dabby.