The clear plastic tube has a "cow magnet" at each end. Cow magnets are typically about 3 inches long, one-half inch in diameter, and the ends are rounded. It is called a cow magnet because of its use. Cows by accident are likely to eat small pieces of fence wire as they eat grass and hay. They have several stomachs that are powerful muscles, constantly mashing and compressing the food they have eaten. A piece of wire in a cow's stomach could puncture the stomach wall and become a serious health risk to the cow. Veterinarians and farmers make their cows swallow a cow magnet. Perhaps because of its weight or its shape, the magnet permanently stays out of the way in one of the cow's stomachs. If the cow then swallows a piece of wire, the wire is held against the magnet and causes the cow no harm. Because the upper cow magnet and the bolt from which it hangs are both rounded the plastic tube can pivot easily in many directions. The bottom of the tube is closest to the table when it hangs straight down (vertical). As the tube swings away from vertical the bottom of the tube (and hence the bottom cow magnet) rises off the surface of the table.
Around the tube are six magnets screwed to wooden disks. These disks are needed to raise the magnets off the table surface so that they are close to the height of the bottom cow magnet as it swings about.
There are a number of loose magnets in the exhibit. They can be stacked on top of the wooden disks or positioned elsewhere on the table. Start the tube swinging and observe the interactions of the magnets. Sometimes it is possible to "trap" the bottom cow magnet so that it moves back and forth is a small area. The motion of the pendulum is unpredictable and random, sometimes called chaotic motion. Though unpredictable, there is a science of chaos and chaotic motion.