Objective:
– To show gyroscope action, precession and nutation.
Apparatus:
- Bicycle wheel
- Gyro stand
- Rotating platform
Method:
The spinning bicycle wheel on the gyro stand will demonstrate precession and nutation.
The spinning bicycle wheel is held by the demonstrator while they stand on the rotating platform. If they rotate the axis through an angle, they will rotate on the platform until they return the axis to its original orientation.
While standing on the platform, they can also show conservation of angular momentum by (a) starting and stopping the bicycle wheel (axis vertical), (b) starting the bicycle wheel (axis horizontal), (c) having someone hand them the spinning bicycle wheel (axis vertical) and stopping it.
Torque Demo: Wheel
– Video Created at Utah State University by Professor Boyd F. Edwards and assistants.