Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 22:48:11 -0700
From: "Charles R. Patton" <patton@iinet.com>
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
Subject: Re: Chaos
Several of the toy battery operated "pendulum" like kinetic sculpture
toys are chaotic. Any of them that have two moving parts, with one part
mounted on and generally within the second. I've kind of collected
these types over the years.
Additionally at least two other types are available from a company
called:
Andrews Manufacturing Co., Inc
2121 Franklin Blvd.
Eugene OR 97403 USA
Ph/Fax 541-484-2892.
They sell one called the " Wildwood Wild & Crazy Pendulum" which is only
one pendulum, but it contains a magnet and avoids the odd number of
magnets in the base in a chaotic way, so it describes a very irregular
path as it swings, and because it is battery driven, it will continue
to do so for a year or more. The other unit they make is a "Magnetron
Magnetic Fascination". This is un-powered and consists of two
three-spoked rotors that are suspended magnetically for very low
friction bearings. The rotors are adjacent in a horizontal plane. The
spoke tips have repulsive magnets in them. Spin one unit, and it
interacts chaotically with the other one.
These are often available in toy stores that lean toward science like
toys.
Charles R. Patton, Editor, Geo-Monitor
email: patton@iinet.com
Geo-Monitor homepage: http://iinet.com/users/patton