• Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store

Exhibits

  • A–Z
  • Subjects
  • Locations
  • Random
  • Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Calendar
      • Today
      • This Week
      • After Dark Thursday Nights
      • Arts
      • Conferences
      • Cinema Arts
      • Free and Community Events
      • Fundraising Events
      • Kids + Families
      • Live Webcasts
      • Members
      • Ongoing + Series
      • Special Hours and Open Mondays
      • Private Event Closures
    • Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Museum Map
    • Reduced Rates & Community Day
    • Accessibility
    • Tips for Visiting with Kids
    • How to Exploratorium
    • Exhibits
    • Tactile Dome
    • Artworks on View
    • Cinema Arts
    • Kanbar Forum
    • Black Box
    • Museum Galleries
      • Bernard and Barbro Osher Gallery 1: Human Phenomena
        • Exhibition: Science of Sharing
          • Educator Activities
        • Tactile Dome
          • 1971 Press Release
        • Black Box
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 2: Tinkering
        • Curator Statement
      • Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing and Listening
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 4: Living Systems
        • Curator Statement
      • Gallery 5: Outdoor Exhibits
        • Curator Statement
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6: Observing Landscapes
        • Wired Pier Environmental Field Station
        • Curator Statement
      • PlayLists
        • All PlayLists
        • A Different Light
        • “We” or “Just Me”?
        • See Yourself in Cells
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 2
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 3
        • Greatest Hits: Gallery 4
        • Museum Map
    • Restaurant & Café
    • School Field Trips
      • Getting Here
        • Bus Routes for Field Trips and Other Groups
      • Prices and Discounts
      • Planning Guide
      • Reservations
        • Field Trip Request Form
      • Resources
    • Groups / Tour Operators
      • Group Visit Request Form
    • Event Rentals
      • COVID-Compliant Options
      • Full Facility & Gallery Bundles
      • Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery & Terrace
      • East Gallery
      • Bechtel Central Gallery
      • Osher West Gallery
      • Kanbar Forum
      • Weddings
      • Proms and School Events
      • Daytime Meeting & Event Options
      • Happy Hour on the Water
      • Rentals FAQ
      • Event Planning Resources
      • Rental Request Form
      • Download Brochure (pdf)
    • Exploratorium Store
    • Contact Us
    • Español
    • 繁體中文
    • 简体中文
    • 한국어
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • Português
    • 日本語
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
      • Teacher Institute
        • About the Teacher Institute
        • Summer Institute for Teachers
        • Teacher Induction Program
        • Leadership Program
        • Teacher Institute Research
        • CA NGSS STEM Conferences
          • NGSS STEM Conference 2020
        • Science Snacks
          • Browse by Subject
          • Special Collections
          • Science Snacks A-Z
          • NGSS Planning Tools
          • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Digital Teaching Boxes
        • Meet the Teacher Institute Staff
        • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Institute for Inquiry
        • What Is Inquiry?
        • Inquiry-based Science and English Language Development
          • Educators Guide
            • Conceptual Overview
              • Science Talk
              • Science Writing
            • Classroom Video Gallery
              • Magnet Investigation
              • Snail Investigation
            • Teacher Professional Development
            • Project Studies
            • Acknowledgments
          • Conference: Exploring Science and English Language Development
            • Interviews with Participants
            • Plenary Sessions
            • Synthesis, Documentation, and Resources
        • Workshops
          • Participant Portal
          • Fundamentals of Inquiry
            • Summary Schedule
          • BaySci Science Champions Academy
          • Facilitators Guides
          • Commissioned Workshops
        • Resource Library
        • Meet the IFI Staff
      • Resources for California Educators
      • K-12 Science Leader Network
      • Resources for Supporting Science Teachers
      • Field Trip Explainer Program
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
      • Learning Toolbox
      • Science Snacks
      • Digital Teaching Boxes
      • Science Activities
      • Tinkering Projects
      • Videos
      • Exhibits
      • Publications
      • Apps
      • Educator Newsletter
      • Exploratorium Websites
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Advancing Ideas about Learning
      • Visitor Research and Evaluation
        • What we do
        • Reports & Publications
        • Projects
        • Who we are
      • Center for Informal Learning in Schools
    • Community Programs
      • High School Explainer Program
      • Xtech
      • Community Educational Engagement
      • California Tinkering Afterschool Network
        • About
        • Partners
        • Resources
        • News & Updates
        • Further Reading
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
      • Arts
      • Astronomy & Space Sciences
        • Planetary Science
        • Space Exploration
      • Biology
        • Anatomy & Physiology
        • Ecology
        • Evolution
        • Genetics
        • Molecular & Cellular Biology
        • Neuroscience
      • Chemistry
        • Combining Matter
        • Food & Cooking
        • Materials & Matter
        • States of Matter
      • Data
        • Data Collection & Analysis
        • Modeling & Simulations
        • Visualization
      • Earth Science
        • Atmosphere
        • Geology
        • Oceans & Water
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Design & Tinkering
        • Real-World Problems & Solutions
      • Environmental Science
        • Global Systems & Cycles
        • Human Impacts
      • History
      • Mathematics
      • Nature of Science
        • Measurement
        • Science as a Process
        • Size & Scale
        • Time
      • Perception
        • Light, Color & Seeing
        • Listening & Hearing
        • Optical Illusions
        • Scent, Smell & Taste
        • Tactile & Touch
      • Physics
        • Electricity & Magnetism
        • Energy
        • Heat & Temperature
        • Light
        • Mechanics
        • Quantum
        • Sound
        • Waves
      • Social Science
        • Culture
        • Language
        • Psychology
        • Sociology
    • Browse by Content Type
      • Activities
      • Blogs
      • Exhibits
      • Video
      • Websites
      • Apps
        • Total Solar Eclipse
  • About Us
    • Contact Info
    • Our Story
    • Our History
      • 50 Years 1969–2019
    • Fact Sheet
    • Impact Report
    • Awards
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
      • Artworks on View
      • Artist-in-Residence Program
      • Cinema Arts
        • History and Collection
        • Cinema Artists-in-Residence
        • Resources and Collaborating Organizations
        • Kanbar Forum
      • Center for Art & Inquiry
        • Begin Here
          • Lessons
            • Bob Miller/Light Walk
            • Ruth Asawa/Milk Carton Sculpture
          • Workshops
      • Resonance
        • About the Series
        • See & Hear
        • Past Seasons
      • Over the Water
      • Black Box
      • Upcoming Events
      • Temporary Exhibitions
      • Arts Program Staff
      • Arts Committee and Advisers
    • Newsletter
    • Educator Newsletter
    • Press Office
    • Senior Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Trustees Alumni
    • Staff Scientists
    • Staff Artists
    • Partnerships
      • Building Global Connections
        • Global Collaborations
          • Projects
          • Approach
          • People
          • Impact
      • Partnering with Science Agencies
        • NASA
        • NOAA
      • Partnering with Educational Institutions
      • Osher Fellows
    • Exhibit Making
    • Institute for Inquiry
    • Teacher Institute
    • Online Engagement
    • Explainer Programs
    • Studio for Public Spaces
    • Job Opportunities
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Follow & Share
    • FY20 Audit Report
    • 990 FY19 Tax Return
    • Use Policy
      • Privacy Policy
      • Intellectual Property Policy
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
      • Membership FAQ
      • Member Benefits
      • After Dark Membership
      • Member Events
      • May Is for Members
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
      • Corporate Membership
      • Luminary Partnerships
    • Attend a fundraiser
      • Wonder Funday
      • Science of Cocktails
      • Party at the Piers
        • Event Leadership and Host Committee
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Volunteer
      • Benefits
      • How to Apply
      • Application for Corporate Groups
      • Application for Internships
      • Application for Professional Societies
      • Application for School Groups & Clubs
      • Our Contract
      • Application for Individuals
      • Opportunities
  • Press Office
    • Press Releases
    • News Coverage
    • Events Calendar
    • Fact Sheet
    • Photographs
    • Press Video
    • Press Kits
    • Press Visits
    • Exploratorium Logos
    • Recent Awards
    • Praise for the Exploratorium
    • Join Our Press List
  • Store
 

Learn with us online while the Exploratorium is temporarily closed. You can help us reopen—donate today.

Exploratorium
Exploratorium
  • Visit
    • Buy Tickets
    • Calendar
    • After Dark Thursdays
    • Exhibits
    • Artworks on View
    • Getting Here
    • Event Rentals
  • Education
    • Professional Development Programs
    • Tools for Teaching and Learning
    • Learning About Learning
    • Community Programs
    • Educator Newsletter
  • Explore
    • Browse by Subject
    • Activities
    • Video
    • Exhibits
    • Apps
    • Blogs
    • Websites
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Partnerships
    • Global Collaborations
    • Explore Our Reach
    • Arts at the Exploratorium
    • Contact Us
  • Join + Support
    • Donate today!
    • Membership
    • Join our donor community
    • Engage your business
    • Attend a fundraiser
    • Explore our reach
    • Thank you to our supporters
    • Host your event
    • Volunteer
  • Store

Exhibits

  • A–Z
  • Subjects
  • Locations
  • Random
  • A museum visitor interacts with the Pendulum Snake exhibit

Pendulum Snake

These balls dance in changing patterns as they swing to their own rhythms.

Lift the handle to start this row of pendulums swinging, and then watch as they move in and out of a repeating series of mesmerizing patterns.


Where:   Crossroads: Getting Started
Exhibit Developer:   Erik Thogersen, 2000

What’s going on?

Each of these swinging balls is a pendulum that swings back and forth at a slightly different rate, determined by the length of string supporting it.

The longest pendulum swings back and forth exactly 15 times in 30 seconds. Its neighbor swings 16 times in 30 seconds, the next 17, and so on down to the shortest one, which swings exactly 24 times in 30 seconds. Since every pendulum completes a whole number of swings in 30 seconds, they all come back together every 30 seconds.  

After 15 seconds, the even-numbered pendulums have completed a whole number of swings and are back where they started. The odd-numbered pendulums are exactly halfway through one of their swings and are opposite where they started. The result is two opposing lines of pendulums that seem to dance with each other.

 
Phenomena: Motion: Pendular Motion, Motion: Periodic Motion, Motion: Simple Harmonic Motion, Phase, Resonance
Keywords: pendulums
Aliases: Snake Pendulum

More to explore

Science activity that demontrates pendulums of different lengths swinging to their own rhythms
Pendulum Snake

Pendulums dance in a shifting series of patterns as they swing to their own rhythms.

Science activity that demonstrates resonance in a pendulum
Coupled Resonant Pendulums

Two pendulums influence each other’s motion to create Intriguing patterns.

Science activity that demonstrates resonance in a pendulum
Resonant Pendulum

Big swings from little pulls grow.

Related exhibits

Coupled Pendulums
Coupled Pendulums

Linked pendulums can get one another going.

Chladni Singing
Chladni Singing

Use your voice to make visible patterns in sand.

Oscylinderscope
Oscylinderscope

See how strings behave when they vibrate and make sound.

Rolling Through the Bay
Rolling Through the Bay

Ping-pong balls take a spin through a toothpick San Francisco.


IMLS acknowledgment

This web project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-30-16-0175-16].

Exploratorium
Visit
Join
Give

Pier 15
(Embarcadero at Green Street)
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 528-4444

Contact Us

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Buy Tickets
  • Hours
  • Getting Here
  • Calendar
  • Tactile Dome
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Donate
  • Event Rentals
  • Jobs
  • Volunteer
  • Press Office

Get at-home activities and learning tools delivered straight to your inbox

© 2020 Exploratorium | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Your California Privacy Rights |