- #1
fog37
- 1,568
- 108
Hello,
A simple gyroscope, which is nothing but a spinning top, will exhibit precessional motion if a) it spins and b) a nonzero gravitational torque is applied to it.
The tip of the gyroscope rotates while the tip rotates on itself. If the gyroscope is mounted on gimbals, which are rings, the tip of the gyroscope continues to point in the same direction (say north) as if the gravitational torques disappeared. Precession is not occurring thanks to the 3 gimbals, correct? I am not sure why though. Is it because, as the tip precesses the gimbals frame rotates the other way cancelling the precession rotation?
For example, a compass could be placed inside the gimbals frame and the compass would keep pointing in the same direction regardless of any movement of the gimbal frame itself. Compasses are magnetic and are negatively affected by metals around while gyroscopes are not.
Thanks!
A simple gyroscope, which is nothing but a spinning top, will exhibit precessional motion if a) it spins and b) a nonzero gravitational torque is applied to it.
The tip of the gyroscope rotates while the tip rotates on itself. If the gyroscope is mounted on gimbals, which are rings, the tip of the gyroscope continues to point in the same direction (say north) as if the gravitational torques disappeared. Precession is not occurring thanks to the 3 gimbals, correct? I am not sure why though. Is it because, as the tip precesses the gimbals frame rotates the other way cancelling the precession rotation?
For example, a compass could be placed inside the gimbals frame and the compass would keep pointing in the same direction regardless of any movement of the gimbal frame itself. Compasses are magnetic and are negatively affected by metals around while gyroscopes are not.
Thanks!