Gyroscopic Motion: Precession

If you have I about one axis, and produce a t (=I) about a second axis, you get precession about the third axis.

The front wheel is straight, but the bike is turning.

Precession
Precession is a common motion that occurs in everyday life, but is not intuitive. It is not intuitive because the vectors that represent angular quantities are perpendicular to the motion and not natural to the eye. A flying football, a spinning quarter, a bicycle and a rolling puck all experience precession.

Why the Wheel doesnt Fall

Ifinal = Iinitial + I

t = I
Ifinal = Iinitial + t
All of the above terms are represented by vectors. Just like linear vectors, the initial vector and the change in vector are added together to give the resultant or final vector.

Why the Wheel doesnt Fall

Precession
Z

I f = I i + I

Ii I
Y X

If

Ii Spin

t
I

If

The position of the If vector will become the Ii vector for the next instant in time and the angular momentum vector for the spinning wheel will precess about the Z axis.

Rate of Precession
Rate of precession =

Rate of precession is how quickly the direction of the angular momentum vector is changing.

=mg

How can you turn your bike without hands?

What is the best way to stop a rolling puck?