- #1
Felix83
- 75
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Consider the concept of a gyroscope. You tie a string to one end and attach the other end to the ceiling so only one end is supported, If you let go when it is not spinning, the obvious occurs - it falls from its horizontal position to a vertical position with the other end pointing towards the ground. However, if you spin the wheel fast enough, start it in a horizontal position and let go, it doesn't fall. It remains in the horizontal position and slowly rotates around the axis of the string. This is explained in most physics books by stating that when an object is rotated fast enough, any force applied to a point on the wheel tends to act at a 90 degree angle - a force down on a point on the bottom of the wheel when spinning (gravity) will act horizontally. In the case of gravity, the force causes it to rotate slowly about the axis of the string.
If there is no string and the spinning gyroscope is simply dropped, why does this same concept not cause the gyroscope to defy gravity and instead of fall down, 'fall' horizontally?
If one end is attached to the string and it is rotating around the axis of the string, if the force is constant (gravitational force is constant), why does the wheel spin at a constant speed rather than accelerate?
If there is no string and the spinning gyroscope is simply dropped, why does this same concept not cause the gyroscope to defy gravity and instead of fall down, 'fall' horizontally?
If one end is attached to the string and it is rotating around the axis of the string, if the force is constant (gravitational force is constant), why does the wheel spin at a constant speed rather than accelerate?