gravity probe b

[powerball]

How does axis of rotation of a gyroscope alter from the geodetic and framedragging effects... and why is the axis pointing in a constant direction in the first place?

[DW]

Originally posted by powerball
How does axis of rotation of a gyroscope alter from the geodetic and framedragging effects...

It stays constant with respect to a locally nonrotating frame. That locally nonrotating frame rotates remotely in accordance with the spacetime's global differential geometry determined by the matter within it as described by Einstein's field equations.


and why is the axis pointing in a constant direction in the first place?
Conservation of angular momentum. Why would it not?