1.8 (a) Phase space (cont)
•The homoclinic orbit is the
• creator of chaos
•
•Imagine a very small number, E (say 1/1000000000)
•
•Release the pendulum at rest, and almost exactly upside-down, but just E degrees off the vertical
•
•For years it will very slowly gather speed
•
•Today it will make a rapid transit of about 360º
•
•Then for years it will slow down, coming to rest at E degrees on the other side of the vertical
•
•If disturbed, it may or may not get over the top      @