Tim's Chaotic Magnets!
Grand Illusions Grand Illusions
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 Published On Nov 12, 2021

As a fan of the book 'Chaos' by James Gleick, which was my introduction to chaos theory, Tim's chaotic magnet toys are an endless source of fun and amazement...

Three magnets, each at the end of a springy wire. The magnets repel each other, and so if you make one of the magnets move to and fro, the other magnets will also move in a strangely chaotic way!

A magnet suspended on a fine thread moves in unexpected ways as it swings above four magnets, which are attached to the base.

The next toy is called 'Flirtation' and it was made by Loncraine Broxton. Two swivelling magnets interact in fascinating ways.

The next example has a magnet hanging at the end of a fine thread. However this one seems to keep going. It turns out there is a small battery powered motor in the base, a so called 'kicker' motor, which every so often gives a swinging magnet a little 'kick' which keeps it going.

At 05.25, we have quite an unusual construction - a Perspex channel has a slight dip in the middle. Place the metal rotor at one end, and it will roll down the slope, and then roll up the other side. You would expect it to slow down fairly quickly, but again this toy has a kicker motor, which keeps the little rotor moving!

Finally an elaborate toy that has two suspended pieces, again with a kicker motion in the base. The resulting chaotic motion is very hypnotic, and as it will runs for quite a few weeks one one battery, one use might be to place it in your shop window, to intrigue and amaze passers by!

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