One of the favorite toys is the spinning top or pinwheel.Untwist it - and he is currently on one leg only bright stripes on the side merge into a solid color stain.It seems to be the most common, simple child's toy, but its behavior is based on a physical phenomenon of gyroscopic effect.While a top fixed, it does not represent any interest, put it vertically impossible.But it is necessary to unwind - here begins the real miracles.
This rotational movement and is responsible for the stability of the top.Because of the friction forces at the pivot rotation is slowed down, and when it stops, spinning falls.Stability gives toy gyroscopic effect.It creates a centrifugal force generated by the rotation whirligig.If it is good to unleash, then even if the Yule originally stood at an angle, it will become vertically.Whirligig always installed so that the axis of rotation and the direction of gravity coincide.
If you try to reject the top of the vertical position, then it starts to make some vibrations, which have a special name - precession.Top axis describes the phenomenon wherein a space around the vertical line shape like a cone.The stronger promoted top, so it will be stable.The more massive is a toy, and the higher the speed, the greater gyroscopic moment it will be able to develop.This term refers to the product of the angular rate gyroscope (rotor) on the moment of inertia of its own rotor.
described random only one of a few possible examples of rotating bodies.Their main feature - the stability of the body in relation to the axis of rotation.To increase stability and avoid its bullets tumbling in the air, she is forced to rotate in flight.Achieves this with the help of screw thread in the barrel.Rotating the bullet retains all the flight, its position and direction.
This example shows that the gyroscopic effect is used not only as children's toys.The stability of the rotor has its use in the art.This principle - resisting attempts to change the position of the rotating disk, built the so-called gyroscopic stabilizers.They work on ships as devices damping pitching.
and invented a special device - a gyroscope.In fact, the gyroscope - it is the same top.This device is placed in a special axis suspension and can freely rotate therein.The gyroscope can serve as a compass.If it strongly unwind, the axis of rotation is directed along the earth's meridian, pointing to the north.Such a device is called the gyrocompass.
compass has certain advantages over conventional magnetic compass.Thus, the error of a magnetic compass often quite large, especially in areas near the poles.In such cases, it is best to use it gyrocompass.There are many other devices using gyroscopic effect - gyrovertical, girotahometry, girostabiliziruyuschie platform.
Even the Earth itself is a giant spinning top, makes one revolution per day.It has a top and precession fluctuations.This is a giant spinning top and a sun.Apparently, it rotates around its own axis in all universe.And not only stars, but also nebulae and galaxies.
Consider, for example spinning top, firmly standing on one point and resist attempts to change his position, was able to learn that the basis for this behavior is surprisingly interesting and useful phenomenon, such as the gyroscopic effect.
