Dynamics of the pendulum with periodically varying length

Dynamic behavior of a weightless rod with a point mass sliding along the rod axis according to periodic law is studied. This is the pendulum with periodically varying length which is also treated as a simple model of a child’s swing. Asymptotic expressions for boundaries of instability domains near resonance frequencies are derived. Domains for oscillation, rotation, and oscillation–rotation motions in parameter space are found analytically and compared with a numerical study. Chaotic motions of the pendulum depending on problem parameters are investigated numerically.