Here is a gyroscope which is not spinning. What is the direction of the torque e

Question

Here is a gyroscope which is not spinning. What is the direction of the torque exerted on the gyroscope? What will this torque make the gyroscope do? Now the gyroscope is spinning as shown. What is the direction of the torque exerted on the gyroscope? What is the direction of the angular momentum vector of the gyroscope? From your answer to Part B what can you conclude about the magnitude of the vertical component of the angular momentum as the motion proceeds? If the spinning gyroscope did what you said in Part A for the gyroscope that wasn't spinning, what would happen to the vertical component of the angular momentum? Is this possible? Now predict the direction of precession of the gyroscope. Check your prediction with the supplied gyroscope. Now the gyroscope is rotating in the opposite direction of Part B. Repeat Parts B - F.

Explanation / Answer

A. The torque produced is due to gravity and direction is defined by the using the thumb rule with repect to the radius vector from the point of suspension and the weight acting at the centre of mass. Here, outward from page.

B. The torque is same in magnitude but rotating in direction at the point of suspension.

C. The angular momentum is constant in magnitude only and long the axle of the gyroscope and outward.

D. The vertical component of the angular momentum remains constant.

E. The vertical component will gradually decay because the constant torque makes the gyroscpe fall.

F. The gyroscope precesses in CCW way.

G. All answers remain unchanged except C(inward now) and the F(precession reverses)

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