Gyroscope Spin & Precession (2D)

Gyroscope Parameters

Spin rate (ω) 26.0 rad/s

Tilt from vertical (θ) 25°

Gravity torque (m·g·r) 1.10

Moment of inertia (I) 0.90

Live Readout

Precession rate Ω

0.00 rad/s

Precession period

0.0 s

Angular momentum L

0.00 kg·m²/s

Elapsed time

0.0 s

How it works

A spinning flywheel tilted away from vertical feels a gravitational torque τ = m·g·r trying to topple it. Instead of falling, the spin axis sweeps sideways around the vertical — precession — at a steady rate:

L = I · ω      (spin angular momentum)
Ω = τ / (I · ω)   (precession rate)

Faster spin means larger angular momentum L, so the same torque produces a slower, more stable precession — drag the spin slider down and watch Ω grow. A small nutation wobble (the tilt angle oscillating slightly) is layered on top, just as in a real gyroscope settling into steady precession.

Main view — an oblique projection of the gimbal and flywheel precessing around the pivot.
Top-down trace — the circle the spin-axis tip sweeps out, seen from directly above.
Ω vs ω curve — the inverse relationship, with a marker at the current spin rate.

Spin axis / flywheel Precession trace Ω(ω) curve