# The angular speed of precession for a gyroscope is given by

by Opus_723
Tags: angular, gyroscope, precession, speed
 P: 179 The angular speed of precession for a gyroscope is given by ω$_{p}$ = T/ω$_{g}$. So that the rate of precession increases as the gyroscope, top, or wheel slows down. This agrees with observations of a top, which wobbles around very quickly as it slows down. If I hold a bicycle wheel in my hand, spin it very fast, and then apply torque to it, I will see a precession effect. But if it is spinning slowly, I see little or no precession, and the bicycle wheel behaves like a normal, non-spinning object. Why does the above equation not seem to hold in this case?
 P: 179 Any help would be appreciated. I've been wrestling with this for awhile, and my prof didn't know the answer offhand.
 P: 179 I guess I'll bump this one more time, then I give up.
 P: 114 The angular speed of precession for a gyroscope is given by The precession rate slows down as spin rate goes up and the forces become immense. Conversely At very low spin rates the precession rate is very high and the forces become very weak, so that they cannot overcome losses or even the force of your hand holding the wheel. As the spin rate tends to zero The precession forces fade to nothing as the precession frequency tends to infinity.
 P: 102 I think you need to define how you are holding the wheel in your hand as it slows down. I'm guessing that your are supporting the weight of the wheel with your hand which is canceling the torque due to gravity.