Pendulum Wave Simulation in Your Browser
This pendulum wave simulation recreates the hypnotic physics demo where a row of pendulums, each a little longer than the last, swing out of phase and then snap back into perfect sync. It runs as a smooth, fullscreen animation you can watch, tweak, and leave looping as ambient motion.
It is built for anyone who loves a relaxing visual or a tangible physics moment: students seeing wave patterns form from simple oscillation, teachers projecting the effect on a screen, or anyone who just wants a calming loop in the background. Adjust the pendulum count, speed, gravity, colors, and viewing angle to make the wave your own.
How to Use the Pendulum Wave
Open and reveal the controls
The simulation starts automatically. Move your pointer over the screen, or tap on mobile, to bring up the control bar. The controls fade away again after a few seconds for an unobstructed view.
Tune count, speed, and gravity
Set the number of pendulums from 10 to 40 with the Count slider. Use Speed to play the loop faster or slower, and Gravity to make every pendulum swing quicker or more gently.
Pick a color and a view
Choose a color preset (Rainbow, Neon, Ocean, Sunset, or Monochrome), switch between Front and Top view, and toggle Trail to leave glowing traces behind each bob.
Watch the cycle, or reset it
Let the pendulums drift apart and rejoin over the full ~60-second cycle. Press Reset at any time to return every pendulum to its synchronized starting position.
Features
Realistic Pendulum Physics
Each pendulum's swing is derived from the real period formula T = 2π√(L/g), so the wave patterns match true pendulum-wave demonstrations.
10 to 40 Pendulums
Drag the Count slider to add or remove pendulums, from a sparse row up to a dense, snake-like wave.
Front and Top Views
Watch strings swinging from a support bar in Front view, or switch to Top view to see the wave traced as dots on parallel tracks.
Five Color Presets
Choose Rainbow, Neon, Ocean, Sunset, or Monochrome to recolor every bob across the whole wave.
Trail and Glow Effects
Each bob carries a soft glow, and Trail mode leaves fading light traces for a mesmerizing light-painting effect.
Adjustable Speed and Gravity
Speed up or slow down the loop and dial gravity from gentle to brisk to change how fast the whole wave moves.
~60-Second Sync Cycle
The pendulums shift out of phase and resynchronize roughly every 60 seconds, then the hypnotic loop begins again.
Auto-Hide Controls
The control bar appears on hover or tap and fades away on its own, keeping the fullscreen view clean for ambient viewing.
One-Tap Reset
Snap every pendulum back to the same starting line at any moment to watch the wave build from sync again.
Settings Saved Automatically
Your count, speed, gravity, color, view, and trail choices are remembered in your browser for the next visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pendulum wave?
A pendulum wave is a row of pendulums whose lengths are tuned so each one swings at a slightly different rate. As they drift out of step they form rippling, snake-like wave patterns, then briefly line up again. This simulator recreates that effect on screen.
How does a pendulum wave work?
Each pendulum completes a different number of swings in the same time window: the longest swings slowest and the shortest swings fastest. Because their periods differ by a fixed step, they continuously shift in and out of phase, which is what creates the travelling wave you see.
Why do the pendulums re-sync?
The lengths are chosen so that within one cycle each pendulum finishes a whole number of swings. After about 60 seconds every pendulum has returned to its exact starting position at the same instant, so they all line up and the pattern repeats.
How many pendulums does a wave need?
You can run anywhere from 10 to 40 pendulums here. More pendulums make the wave look denser and smoother, like a flowing ribbon; fewer make each individual swing easier to follow. Try both ends of the slider to see how the pattern changes.
Is this real physics or just an animation?
It is a faithful simulation built on the real pendulum period formula, T = 2π√(L/g), with the lengths tuned exactly like a physical pendulum-wave apparatus. It is an idealized model, so it keeps swinging without the friction and air resistance that would eventually slow a real one.
What do the Speed and Gravity sliders do?
Speed simply plays the whole animation faster or slower without changing the pattern. Gravity changes the simulated gravitational pull: higher gravity makes every pendulum swing quicker, lower gravity slows them down, and both affect all pendulums proportionally so the wave stays consistent.
Can I use this as a background or screensaver?
Yes. The animation loops continuously and the controls auto-hide for a clean view. Put your browser into fullscreen, pick a color preset and Trail mode if you like, and let it run as ambient motion or a relaxing screensaver.
Are my settings saved?
Yes. Your pendulum count, speed, gravity, color preset, view mode, and trail setting are stored locally in your browser and restored automatically the next time you open the page. They are never sent to a server.
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