Ensign Kepler Predicts the Lunar Eclipse

2015

​

Newton’s laws of motion showed that two bodies could orbit each other with complete predictability. However, to Newton’s frustration, three bodies do not have a general closed form solution to their orbital motion.

 

Ensign Kepler is presented with a system of three dark, orbiting bodies, one of which has a bright moon. In this kinetic sculpture, the chaotic motion of three mutually balanced, offset pendulum rotors represent orbits.

 

However, the balanced but offset rotors interact during motion to become chaotic: essentially unpredictable and not repeatable.  Sometimes simplicity begets complexity, presenting a challenge to our enterprising young officer.