Gyroscopic Motion: Show Me the Forces!

• Autores: Harvery Kaplan, Andrew Hirsch
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 52, Nº. 1, 2014, págs. 30-33
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Gyroscopes are frequently used in physics lecture demonstrations and in laboratory activities to teach students about rotational dynamics, namely, angular momentum and torque. Use of these powerful concepts makes it difficult for students to fully comprehend the mechanism that keeps the gyroscope from falling under the force of gravity. The analysis of gyroscopic motion presented here is in terms of linear forces and linear momentum, allowing students to understand gyroscopic motion using familiar concepts. Our simulation using VPython 1 models the gyroscope as a number of point masses evenly spaced in a radial pattern. Students can alter the parameters of the gyroscope including starting position, mass, rotational velocity of the masses, and the force of gravity. All of this allows for a simulation intended to help students understand how such a complex system works.