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Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

The students investigate the dynamics of an inverted pendulum with a torsional restoring force. Because the equation of motion can be approximated by a nonlinear equation known as the Duffing equation, this sort of pendulum is known as a Duffing oscillator. Although the system is very simple (a flexible steel ruler with a little weight on top--sort of like a metronome) the motion has regimes where the behavior is neither regular, nor predictable: knowing the position and velocity at some point in time is of no use in predicting the posiiton and velocity at some later time.

Course Level

Intermediate: P49

Student Handouts

Equipment

Number of set-ups available: 1 Per lab station: 1 HP3325A synthesizer/function generator 2 oscilloscope 1 oscillator control box 1 plotter/paper and pens 1 Macscope interface box/power supply and signal cable 1 MacScope User's Manual 1 Macintosh/dust cover and mouse pad on a rolling cart 1 oscillator appratus/plexiglass box 1 styrofoam cylindrical container for dry/alcohol mixture 1 styrofoam container to hold extra dry ice 8 BNC cables 4 BNC - T-connectors 2 BNC to banana (male) adaptors 1 pumb bob

Notes

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