Double Pendulum Chaos
Watch Order Fall Into Chaos.
What it does
An interactive physics simulation that brings one of the most fascinating systems in classical mechanics to life—the chaotic double pendulum. Built using the Lagrangian formulation of mechanics and integrated with the classical fourth-order Runge–Kutta (RK4) method, the simulator accurately models the nonlinear dynamics of a double pendulum with optional linear air damping.
Experiment by dragging the pendulum to any starting position, adjusting physical parameters such as rod lengths, masses, gravity, and damping, or activate Chaos Demo mode to compare two pendulums whose initial angles differ by just 0.001°. Despite obeying identical equations of motion, their trajectories rapidly diverge, offering a striking visualization of deterministic chaos and the butterfly effect.
Featuring cinematic motion trails, dual visual themes (Dark Observatory and Blackboard), adjustable simulation speed, and real-time parameter controls, the project is designed to be both an educational tool and an engaging visual demonstration of how simple deterministic laws can produce remarkably complex and unpredictable behavior.