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Chaos: Sensitivity To Initial Conditions

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Visit this site: http://www.jimloy.com/math/chaos.htm
Author:Jim Loy
Description: An elementary discussion of chaos. "Imagine a flat surface with nails driven in it. The surface is slanting, so that a marble will roll down it. A marble hits one of the nails, and momentarily stops, before falling to one side or the other. The situation is chaotic. A very small change in the marble's initial trajectory will make a big change in its final trajectory. The phenomenon is called "sensitivity to initial conditions," and is one pervasive feature of chaos. The study of chaos has become the science of the unpredictable. And sensitivity to initial conditions is a chief source of that unpredictability. And sensitivity to initial conditions is the main way in which you can recognize a chaotic system."
Levels: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)
Languages: English
Resource Types: Articles
Math Topics: Chaos

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