Precession and nutation of a gyroscope

Precession and nutation of a gyroscope 3D virtual laboratory work on physics (section: Mechanics).

INTENTION: Simulation of a laboratory work on general physics.

EXPERIMENTAL OBJECTIVE: Experimental study of precession and nutation of a gyroscope and determination of the moment of inertia.

DESCRIPTION: A disk rotating around its axis, in addition to its rotational motion, makes movements called precession and nutation, which depend on whether an external force and, therefore, an additional torque acts on its axis, and whether the axis of rotation of the disk, which was previously in an equilibrium position, deviates from its equilibrium position. The precession period is inversely proportional to the rotation period, and the nutation period is directly proportional to the rotation period. The dependence of the precession period on the rotation period makes it possible to determine the moment of inertia of the rotating disk.