Gyroscopic motion: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Gyroscope_precession.gif|400px|framed|right|Figure 1. A rotating gyroscope, with the angular momentum vector pointing upwards, exhibits gyroscopic motion as it resists falling over.<ref>"Gyroscope precession". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif#mediaviewer/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif</ref>]] | [[File:Gyroscope_precession.gif|400px|framed|right|Figure 1. A rotating gyroscope, with the angular momentum vector pointing upwards, exhibits gyroscopic motion as it resists falling over.<ref>"Gyroscope precession". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif#mediaviewer/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif</ref>]] | ||
<onlyinclude>'''Gyroscopic motion''' describes a rotating object's tendency to keep spinning in the same direction. For example a rotating top falls over if it's not spinning but when spinning it doesn't seem to fall. A rotating object has angular momentum which must be conserved. The object will resist any change in its axis of rotation, as a change in orientation will result in a change in angular momentum.</onlyinclude><ref>PIVoT, “Kinetic Energy of Rotation; Moment of Inertia,” 2013. [Online]. Available: http://curricula2.mit.edu/pivot/book/ph1204.html?acode=0x0200. </ref> | |||
* Gyroscopic motion is most obvious when playing with a gyroscopic top. The faster the top spins the better it resists falling over. Note the top will wobble while it spins. | |||
* The Earth also has gyroscopic motion (and has wobbles, leading to [[Milankovitch cycle]]s). | |||
* This same physics is part of why bicycles stay upright (and why you to ''lean'' to turn a bicycle, see [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/bicycle.html hyperphysics]). | |||
* Gyroscopic motion is used in inertial navigation systems with airplanes and space ships.<ref>Sheryl Stovall "Basic Inertial Navigation" found: http://fas.org/spp/military/program/nav/basicnav.pdf accessed 2014-07-11</ref> | |||
Gyroscopic motion can also create problems with [[flywheel]]s. Additionally, gyroscopic motion can cause catastrophic failure in [[wind turbine]]s.<ref>http://www.dewi.de/dewi/fileadmin/pdf/publications/Magazin_15/12.pdf</ref> This comes from the tendency for a spinning object to want to keep spinning in the same direction. | |||
Below is a video from Veritasium explaining the unique phenomenon of gyroscopic motion and precession. It contains an interesting demo using a spinning bicycle wheel: | Below is a video from Veritasium explaining the unique phenomenon of gyroscopic motion and precession. It contains an interesting demo using a spinning bicycle wheel: | ||
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You can learn more about gyroscopic motion [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/gyr.html here]. | You can learn more about gyroscopic motion [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/gyr.html here]. | ||
== For Further Reading == | |||
* [[Vector]] | |||
* [[Torque]] | |||
* [[Milankovitch cycle]] | |||
* [[Flywheel]] | |||
* Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Uploaded]] | [[Category:Uploaded]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:43, 4 August 2026
Figure 1. A rotating gyroscope, with the angular momentum vector pointing upwards, exhibits gyroscopic motion as it resists falling over.[1]
Gyroscopic motion describes a rotating object's tendency to keep spinning in the same direction. For example a rotating top falls over if it's not spinning but when spinning it doesn't seem to fall. A rotating object has angular momentum which must be conserved. The object will resist any change in its axis of rotation, as a change in orientation will result in a change in angular momentum.[2]
- Gyroscopic motion is most obvious when playing with a gyroscopic top. The faster the top spins the better it resists falling over. Note the top will wobble while it spins.
- The Earth also has gyroscopic motion (and has wobbles, leading to Milankovitch cycles).
- This same physics is part of why bicycles stay upright (and why you to lean to turn a bicycle, see hyperphysics).
- Gyroscopic motion is used in inertial navigation systems with airplanes and space ships.[3]
Gyroscopic motion can also create problems with flywheels. Additionally, gyroscopic motion can cause catastrophic failure in wind turbines.[4] This comes from the tendency for a spinning object to want to keep spinning in the same direction.
Below is a video from Veritasium explaining the unique phenomenon of gyroscopic motion and precession. It contains an interesting demo using a spinning bicycle wheel:
You can learn more about gyroscopic motion here.
For Further Reading
- Vector
- Torque
- Milankovitch cycle
- Flywheel
- Or explore a random page
References
- ↑ "Gyroscope precession". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif#mediaviewer/File:Gyroscope_precession.gif
- ↑ PIVoT, “Kinetic Energy of Rotation; Moment of Inertia,” 2013. [Online]. Available: http://curricula2.mit.edu/pivot/book/ph1204.html?acode=0x0200.
- ↑ Sheryl Stovall "Basic Inertial Navigation" found: http://fas.org/spp/military/program/nav/basicnav.pdf accessed 2014-07-11
- ↑ http://www.dewi.de/dewi/fileadmin/pdf/publications/Magazin_15/12.pdf
