Lorenz Strange Attractor
In this project I explore the Lorenz Strange Attractor in 3D using ThreeJS. The Lorenz Attractor is a dynamical system that exhibits chaotic behavior and is named after Edward Lorenz who discovered it in 1963 while studying weather patterns.
Open demoThe equations behind the attractor
The Lorenz Attractor formula is a set of three ordinary differential equations. These equations define the rate of change of a point in a three-dimensional space. The equations are as follows:
Or in a more programatic way:
Where
- : The Prandtl number, think of it as comparing how fast a pot of water heats up (heat transfer) to how quickly you stir the water (fluid flow)
- : The Rayleigh number, imagine you're heating water from the bottom. A higher temperature difference between the bottom and top makes the water start to boil and circulate faster.
- : The geometric factor, consider trying to stir honey versus water. Honey, being thicker, resists movement more. That resistance is captured by this parameter.
In Lorenz original paper, the values were chosen as:
These values produce the iconic butterfly shape that characterizes the dynamical system. This is what makes the Lorenz Attractor truly fascinating is its shape: Nobody would expect such shape to come out of such simple equations.
Closing thoughts
In the end, the Lorenz strange attractor reveals a compelling aspect of chaos—where tiny changes can lead to vastly different outcomes, yet still follow an underlying order. Its complex, never-repeating patterns show that even in systems that seem random, there’s a hidden structure waiting to be uncovered. As we study chaotic systems like this, we find that the unpredictable is not as arbitrary as it seems, offering new ways to understand the complexity of the world around us.