Mechanics > Rotational Dynamics > Precession DCS# 1Q50.50

PRECESSING GYROSCOPE



APPARATUS
gyroscope on long axle with movable counterweight 202-15-C
motor with foot pedal 202-15-E6

DESCRIPTION
Use the motor to spin up the gyroscope.  The counterweight produces a torque about a horizontal axis through the pivot point and can be adjusted to balance the gyroscope so there is no precession, or moved in or out to cause the system to precess in different directions.

We also have a bicycle wheel version of this, whose parts are in W107, and which can be hung from the unistrut grid or from tall ringstands with extra bracing.  Spinning it up by hand is sufficient.

REFERENCES
AJP 31, 393-394, (1963).