Waterwheel Lab
Complex Systems Dynamics demonstrated with a Waterwheel
The following online simulation is suited for classroom demonstrations
and experiments when displayed via a beamer. Using a simple waterwheel as
a model system, basic properties of complex systems can easily be communicated
to a scientific or non-scientific general public. But the waterwheel is more
than a mere didactic tool: A few words about the science behind the waterwheel
and its history is given here.
The simulation runs best on a PC with at least 266 MHz Pentium processor
and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or higher. You find help here.
The following four important characteristics of complex systems can be demonstrated:
1.
Chaos: Simulation of the real Waterwheel at Fachhochschule Brugg-Windisch,
Switzerland
Chaos is creative: The waterwheel mouvement never
repeats!
2.
Butterfly Effect
Vanishingly small causes can have important effects
after a while!
3.
Multistability
Different dances are possible to the same music!
4.
Critical Constellations
Jiu-jitsu against wrestling or do the right little
thing in exactly the right moment!
Run
the Waterwheel
Download
Waterwheel.zip (60 kb)
To run the waterwheel off-line: Unzip the file
into a folder of your choice and start your browser by double-clicking Waterwheel.html
(tested with Mac and PC for Netscape and Explorer)
Address
Fritz Gassmann
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland
Tel. : +41 56 310 26 47
Fax : +41 56 310 44 16
e-Mail : gassmann@psi.ch
WWW : http://people.web.psi.ch/gassmann
Last update May 2003
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