A magnetic pendulum for demonstrating Mathieu-type parametric resonance

Abstract We describe a magnetic pendulum apparatus designed for studying and demonstrating Mathieu-type parametric resonance. The apparatus features a T-shaped rigid arm with a neodymium (NdFeB) magnet bob, suspended by double V-shaped thread suspensions. It is parametrically driven by an alternating uniform magnetic field produced by Helmholtz coils. The pendulum is structurally simple and easy to implement, and its parameter-driven mechanism is transparent in terms of physics. The use of electromagnetic driving allows for precise control over both the frequency and amplitude of parameter modulation, enabling quantitative studying on parametric resonance. We have observed the first and second instability region of parametric resonance. We also theoretically analyze the impact of non-uniformity in the Helmholtz coils’ magnetic field on the pendulum motion, revealing that the non-uniformity can significantly alter the pendulum’s nonlinearity, influencing both the magnitude and the sign of the coefficients of the nonlinear terms. However, under the parameters of our experimental setup, the nonlinearity effect is mainly manifested in large swing angle motions. For small swing angle within 5°, the impact of magnetic field non-uniformity on parametric resonance is negligible. The experiment reported here is appropriate for undergraduates to carry out experimental research, helping them develop a more intuitive and quantitative understanding of parametric resonance.