PASCO ME-8960 DEMONSTRATION GYROSCOPE - Manual (Page 21)

17
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope
“A” base
rotating
axle
add-on mass
counterweights
rotating disk
Experiment 4: Nutations - Demonstration
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
– Gyroscope (ME-8960)
Purpose
Three different types of nutation are shown.
Procedure
➀
Adjust the counterweights until the gyroscope is balanced.
➁ Put the add-on mass on the end of the shaft.
➂
Spin the disk and release the gyroscope from rest at an angle of about 30˚. See Figure 4.1.
➃
The resulting nutation will look like pattern (A) in Figure 4.2.
➄
Stop the precession and spin the disk again. Release the gyroscope from the same angle but
give it an initial push in the direction of precession. The resulting nutation will look like
pattern (B) in Figure 4.2.
➅
Stop the precession and spin the disk again. Release the gyroscope from the same angle but
give it an initial push in the direction opposite to the precession. The resulting nutation will
look like pattern (C) in Figure 4.2.
➆
Spin the disk at a different speed and check the effect this has on the speed of the nutation.
➇
Release the disk from a different angle and check the effect this has on the nutation.
90
100
110
120
130
140
80
70
60
50
40
30
ME-8960 DEMONSTRATION
GYROSCOPE
CAUTION
MAGNET
Figure 4.1: Release Position of Gyro