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Lecture 10 – Gyroscopes

This document discusses the mechanics of gyroscopes, focusing on gyroscopic motion and precession. It explains the vector nature of rotational motion, the effects of torque, and the principles governing the behavior of spinning gyroscopes when subjected to various forces. An example problem illustrates the calculation of precession speed for a rotating disc mounted on an arm.

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memesecond117
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4 views15 pages

Lecture 10 – Gyroscopes

This document discusses the mechanics of gyroscopes, focusing on gyroscopic motion and precession. It explains the vector nature of rotational motion, the effects of torque, and the principles governing the behavior of spinning gyroscopes when subjected to various forces. An example problem illustrates the calculation of precession speed for a rotating disc mounted on an arm.

Uploaded by

memesecond117
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mechanics of

Machines II MEE32101

LECTURE 10 – GYROSCOPES

1
The Vector Nature of Rotational
Motion
The right-hand rule gives the
vector direction of the torque t.
Gyroscopic Motion
Suppose you have a spinning
gyroscope in the configuration
shown below: Support
(to be removed) pivot
If the left support is removed,
what will happen??
• The gyroscope does not fall down! 

• The gyroscope precesses around g


its pivot axis.
• This rather odd phenomenon can
be understood by using the vector
character of angular momentum.
Precession
5
Terms
Plane
of spinning Y
Z

Z δθ
Axis of p
precession X’ Plane of X’
precession
O
X
Axis of spin
X

Gyroscopic Motion
The magnitude of the torque about
the pivot is l

T= mgl
The direction of this torque at the
instant shown is out (using the right L

hand rule).
The change in angular momentum mg
at the instant shown must also be
out.
Gyroscopic Motion
Consider a view looking down on
the gyroscope.
The magnitude of the change in L 
angular momentum in a time Dt is
DL = LD. mg

So
L 
L  L p L(t)
t t pivot
DL D
where wp is the “Angular velocity of
precession” L(t+Dt)
top view
Gyroscopic Motion
As L = I ,therefore: Couple (C)
L
C L p I p l
t
But C = mgl => mgl = I  p
w
mgl L pivot
p  
I mg
The direction of precession is given
by applying the right hand rule to
find the direction of C and hence of
DL/Dt.
Gyroscopic Motion
The couple I. .p is the active Plane
gyroscopic couple, which has to be of spinning
applied over the disc when the axis of
spin is made to rotate with angular
Y
velocity p about the axis of
precession.
Z
Axis of
precession X’ Plane of
precession
O δθ
X
Axis of spin
Gyroscopic Motion
The plane XY is called the plane of Plane
active gyroscopic couple and, of spinning
Plane of active
The axis Z perpendicular to the plane gyro. couple
XY, about which the couple acts, is Y
called the axis of active gyroscopic
couple. Axis of active
Z
gyro. couple
Axis of
precession X’
O δθ Plane of
X precession

Axis of spin
Gyroscopic Motion
When the axis of spin itself moves with Plane

angular velocity p, the disc is of spinning


Plane of active
subjected to reactive couple whose gyro. couple
magnitude is same but opposite in
Y
direction to that of active couple and it
is known as reactive gyroscopic couple.
Axis of active
Z
The axis of the reactive gyroscopic gyro. couple

couple is represented by 0Z' . Axis of


precession X’ Plane of
precession
O δθ
X
Z’ Axis of spin
Axis of reactive
gyro. couple
Example
A uniform disc of diameter 350 mm and of mass 7 kg is mounted on one end of an
arm of length 500 mm. The other end of the arm is free to rotate in a universal
bearing. If the disc rotates about the arm with a speed of 400 r.p.m. clockwise,
looking from the front, with what speed will it precess about the vertical axis?
Solution.
Given: d = 350 mm;
m = 7 kg ; l = 500 mm = 0.5 m ;
N = 400 r.p.m
Mass momentum of inertia of the disc: I = m.r2/2
Solution
C= I.ω.ωP
Mass momentum of inertia of the disc:
I = m.r2/2 = 5(0.15)2/2 = 0.056 kg-m2
and couple due to mass of disc,
C = m.g.l = 5 × 9.81 × 0.6 = 29.43 N-m
We know that couple (C),
29.43 = I.ω.ωP
= 0.056 × 31.42 × ωP = 1.76 ωP
∴ ωP = 29.43/1.76 = 16.7 rad/s Ans.
End
Course is Done!!

15

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