🌀 Gyroscope Precession — 2D

Tilt the spin axis, hit Release, and watch gravity's torque τ = mgr·sinθ sweep the axis around at the real precession rate Ω = mgr/(I·ω). Top-down view: the dashed circle is the tip's ideal path.

Ω 0.000 rad/s

L = Iω —

τ = mgr·sinθ —

Period T —

Spin rate ω: 20 rad/s Moment of inertia I: 2.16e-3 kg·m² Tilt angle θ: 30° Speed: 1.0×

Ω = m·g·r / (I·ω) — tilt θ cancels out; slower spin ⇒ faster precession

L — angular momentum τ — torque Ω — precession mg — gravity