1. 3-Dimensional Rotation: Gyroscopes
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W13D2

2. Torque and Time Derivative of Angular Momentum
Torque about S is equal to the time derivative of the angular momentum about S
If the magnitude of the angular momentum is constant then the torque can cause the direction of the angular momentum to change

3. Time Derivative of a Vector
Consider a vector
where
A vector can change both magnitude and direction.
Example: Suppose does not change magnitude but only changes direction then

4. Time Derivative of Vectors of Constant Length: Circular Motion
Circular Motion: position vector points radially outward, with constant magnitude but changes in direction. The velocity vector points in a tangential direction to the circle with a constant magnitude. The acceleration vector points radially inward.

5. Introduction To Gyroscopic Motion

6. Deflection of a Free Particle by a Small Impulse
If the impulse << the primary effect is to rotate about
the x axis by a small angle .

7. Deflection of a Free Particle by a Small Impulse
The application of causes a change in the angular momentum through the torque equation.

8. Deflection of a Free Particle by a Small Impulse
As a result, rotates about the x axis by a small angle . Note that although is in the z direction, is in the negative y direction.

9. Effect of a Small Impulse on a Tethered Ball
The ball is attached to a string rotating about a fixed
point. Neglect gravity.

10. Effect of a Small Impulse on a Tethered Ball
The ball is given an impulse perpendicular to and to .

11. Effect of a Small Impulse on a Tethered Ball
As a result, rotates about the x axis by
a small angle . Note that although is in the
z direction, is in the negative y direction.

12. Effect of a Small Impulse on a Tethered Ball
The plane in which the ball moves also rotates about
the x axis by the same angle. Note that although is
in the z direction, the plane rotates about the x axis.

13. Concept Question: Effect of a Large Impulse on a Tethered Ball
What impulse must be given to the ball in order
to rotate its orbit by 90 degrees as shown without
changing its speed?

14. Effect of a Large Impulse on a Tethered Ball
What impulse must be given to the ball in order
to rotate its orbit by 90 degrees as shown without
changing its speed?

15. Solution: Effect of a Large Impulse on a Tethered Ball
must halt the y motion and provide a momentum
of equal magnitude along the z direction.

16. Solution: Effect of a Large Impulse on a Tethered Ball
cancels the z component of and adds a component
of the same magnitude in the negative y direction.

17. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on a Baton
Now we have two equal masses at the ends of a
massless rod which spins about its center. We apply
an impulse couple to insure no motion of the CM.

18. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on a Baton
Again note that the impulse couple is applied in the z
direction. The resulting torque lies along the negative y
direction and the plane of rotation tilts about the x axis.

19. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on Massless Shaft of a Baton
Instead of applying the impulse couple to the masses one could apply it to the shaft to achieve the same result.

20. Concept Question: Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on Massless Shaft of a Baton
To make the top of the shaft move in the -y direction
in which direction should one apply the top half of an
impulse couple?

21. Solution: Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on Massless Shaft of a Baton
The impulse couple Ib applied to the shaft has the
same effect as the Ia couple applied directly to the
masses. Both produce a torque in the - y direction.

22. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on Massless Shaft of a Baton
Trying to twist the shaft around the y axis causes
the shaft and the plane in which the baton moves
to rotate about the x axis.

23. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on a Disk
The plane of a rotating disk and its shaft behave just
like the plane of the rotating baton and its shaft when
one attempts to twist the shaft about the y axis.

24. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on a Non-Rotating Disc
This unexpected result is due to the large pre-existing .
If the disk is not rotating to begin with, is also the
final The shaft moves in the direction it is pushed.

25. Effect of a Small Impulse Couple on a Disk
It does not matter where along the shaft the impulse
couple is applied, as long as it creates the same torque.

26. Effect of a Force Couple on a Rotating Disk
A series of small impulse couples, or equivalently a
continuous force couple, causes the tip of the shaft
to execute circular motion about the x axis.

27. Effect of a Force Couple on a Rotating Disk
The precession rate of the shaft is the ratio of the
magnitude of the torque to the angular momentum.

28. Precessing Gyroscope

29. Toy Gyroscope: Forces and Torque
Gravitational force acts at the center of the mass and points downward
Contact force between the end of the axle and the pylon
Torque about the contact point due to gravitational force
The direction of the torque about pivot points into the page in the figure

30. Torque: Magnitude of Angular Momentum Changes
If the flywheel of the gyroscope is not spinning, gyroscope starts to fall downward and the torque about the pivot point S induces the gyroscope to start rotating about an axis pointing into page.
Torque induces the magnitude of the angular momentum to change.

31. Direction of Angular Momentum Changes
If the flywheel is spinning, the spin angular momentum about the center of mass of the flywheel points along the axle, radially outward; the torque causes the spin angular momentum to change its direction, with precessional angular frequency

32. Gyroscope: Precession
Torque about the pivot point induces the angular momentum to change
Precessional angular frequency of the gyroscope
Newton’s Second Law: center of mass remains at rest

33. Gyroscopic Approximation
Flywheel is spinning with an angular velocity
Precessional angular velocity
Total angular velocity
Gyroscopic approximation: the angular velocity of precession is much less than the component of the spin angular velocity ,

34. Table Problem: Gyroscope
A gyroscope wheel is at one end of an axle of length l . The axle is pivoted at an angle  with respect to the horizontal. The wheel is set into motion so that it executes uniform precession. The wheel has mass m and moment of inertia Icm about its center of mass . Its spin angular velocity is s . Neglect the mass of the shaft. What is the precessional frequency of the gyroscope? Which direction does the gyroscope rotate?