PPolySim OS

Pendulum Wave

A row of pendulums, each a touch longer than the last. As their periods drift apart they paint traveling waves — then snap back into perfect sync.

Pendulum WaveLive

Controls

A row of pendulums with slightly different lengths. They drift in and out of phase, weaving traveling waves, then briefly snap back into sync.

Presets

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Pendulums18
Slowest period2.00 s
Fastest period0.61 s
Effectphase waves

Governing equation

Reading this result: Each of the 18 pendulums is set to a slightly different length, so its period drifts from the slowest (~2.00s, 30 swings per cycle) to the fastest (~0.61s, 98 swings per cycle). With a period spread of 4, the phases fan out into a traveling wave, dissolve into a chaos-looking scramble, and then all re-sync at the common 60-unit cycle before repeating. Wider spread reaches the disordered stage sooner; more pendulums makes the wave smoother.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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How it works

Each pendulum has a slightly different length and therefore period. Starting in phase, they gradually separate, producing snake-like traveling and standing patterns, before realigning after a full cycle — a beautiful demonstration of phase and frequency.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this pendulum wave tool really free?
Yes. Pendulum Wave runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.