The object of this paper is to present the fundamental properties of the gyroscope in an elementary manner, suitable for second year students of Physics.
The motion of each particle of the gyro disc will be followed, and its contribution to the overall effect studied.
We will limit the study to two sets of conditions, (A) intersecting and mutually perpendicular axes of precession, of torque, and of the axle of the rotating disc, considering only small variations from the mutually perpendicular position, (B) The axle of the gyro does not move far from the precession axis. The point of intersection of the axes and axle is fixed in space.
Seven cases will be considered: (I) Addition of Uniform Displacements; of uniform displacements and the displacement due to a constant force; under (A) (II) Uniform precession about an axis fixed in space, (III) Sudden removal of the torque from a free gyro, or the motion produced by an impulse, (IV) Forked uniform precession about a fixed axis in space, on a free gyro, (V) Nutation produced by suddenly applying a torque to a free gyro, (VI) Torque gradually applied; Under (B) (VII) Gyro Pendulum; Top.
It is hoped that our method of presenting the above studies will serve to impart a more intimate knowledge of the gyroscopic phenomena to the undergraduate student, lead to quantitative laboratory work, and form the basis for a more general, advanced study, using vectors to represent each angular moment of momentum, and their interactions followed.