Vol.13, No2, 2013, pp.81–86
UDC 531.53

In this paper the experimental motion of the double pendulum is investigated. The influence of initial orientation and energy of the system on the oscillation is analysed. Angular displacement sensors which contributed to the damping of the pendulum were attached to the pivots. The crank angles of both limbs were measured as a function of time. On the basis of the analysis it is shown that the motion of the system is quite unpredictable unless initial conditions are known to a very high degree of accuracy. Even very small differences in the initial condition cause a completely different oscillation of the pendulum

Keywords: double pendulum, Lissajous-like curves, oscillation behaviour