The gyroscopic effect - we stand while we turn

One of the favorite children's toys is a top or yule. You will untwist it - it and costs to itself on one leg, only bright strips on a sidewalk merge in a continuous color spot. It would seem that the most common, simple children's toy, and at the heart of her behavior is a physical phenomenon, such as a gyroscopic effect. While such a gyroscope is motionless, it does not represent any interest, it is simply impossible to place it vertically. But it is worth it to untwist - here real miracles begin.

It is precisely the rotational motion that causes the stability of the top. Because of the frictional forces at the fulcrum, the rotation slows down, and when it stops, the top will fall. The stability of the toy gives a gyroscopic effect. It is created by the centrifugal force that arises when the yule rotates. If it is well untwisted, then, even if the yule originally stood at an angle, it will become vertical. The top is always set so that the axis of rotation and the direction of gravity coincide.

If you try to deflect the top from the vertical position, then it begins to make some oscillations, which have a special name - precession. The axis of the top at this phenomenon describes in the space around the vertical line a figure similar to a cone. The more the top is untwisted, the more stable it will be. The more massive the toy will be and the higher its speed, the greater the gyroscopic moment it will be able to develop. By this term is meant the product of the angular velocity of the top (rotor) at the moment of inertia of the rotor's own rotation.

The case described is only one of the few possible examples of rotating bodies. Their main feature is the stability of the body with respect to the axis of rotation. To increase the stability of the bullet and exclude its tumbling in the air, it is forced in flight to rotate. Achieve this with a screw thread in the trunk. A rotating bullet keeps its position and direction throughout the flight.

From the above example, it can be seen that the gyroscopic effect finds application not only as a child's toy. The stability of the rotating disk has its use in engineering. On this principle - the resistance to attempts to change the position of the rotating disk, so-called gyroscopic stabilizers are constructed. They work on sea-going vessels as a device that stops rolling.

Invented and a special device - a gyroscope. In fact, the gyroscope is the same top. At this device the axle is placed in a special suspension and can freely rotate in it. The gyro can serve as a compass. If you strongly untwist it, the axis of its rotation will be directed along the earth's meridian, pointing to the north. Such a device is called a gyrocompass.

The gyrocompass has certain advantages over the usual magnetic compass. So, the error of the magnetic compass is often quite large, especially in areas near the poles. In such cases it is best to use the gyrocompass. There are many other instruments with the use of a gyroscopic effect - a gyro-horizon, gyrotachometers, gyrostabilizing platforms.

Even the Earth itself is a giant top, making one revolution per day. This top also has precession oscillations. The same giant spinning top represents the Sun. Apparently, everything revolves around its axis in the universe. And not only stars, but also nebulae, and galaxies.

Considering, as an example, a spinning top, firmly standing on one point and resisting attempts to change its position, it was possible to learn that at the heart of such behavior is a surprisingly interesting and useful phenomenon, such as a gyroscopic effect.