Can Precession Explain the Stability of High-Speed Ice Skaters?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the application of precession in the context of high-speed ice skating. It is established that precession, which involves spinning angular momentum and torque, does not significantly contribute to the stability of ice skaters at high speeds. Participants clarify that while precession is a phenomenon observed in gyroscopes, it does not apply to the dynamics of ice skating, where factors like body lean and steering play a more critical role in maintaining balance. Ultimately, high-speed ice skaters do not exhibit greater stability than their slower counterparts due to the complexities of dynamic stability.

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does it take wheels for precession to happen? can precession be applied to ice skates, for example?
 
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Welcome to PhysicsForums. :smile:

Assuming you mean precession of a spinning ice skater (not of their skates), it should happen. What makes a gyroscope precess? Spinning angular momentum is one part; what is the other part that causes precession? What could you do to an ice skater in a spin that would cause this effect? :smile:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...precession.gif/220px-Gyroscope_precession.gif

1612136941635.png
 
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berkeman said:
Welcome to PhysicsForums. :smile:

Assuming you mean precession of a spinning ice skater (not of their skates), it should happen. What makes a gyroscope precess? Spinning angular momentum is one part; what is the other part that causes precession? What could you do to an ice skater in a spin that would cause this effect? :smile:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...precession.gif/220px-Gyroscope_precession.gif

View attachment 277225
Would it be the torque?
I don't get where is the spinning angular momentum, like in the wheels.

thanks for your reply :smile:
 
gabriel barata said:
I don't get where is the spinning angular momentum, ...
How should we know? You have not described any specific scenario.
 
A.T. said:
How should we know? You have not described any specific scenario.
A person leans to the side riding his bike to make the turn. I wanted to know about a person leaning on ice skates to make the turn, just like the person on the bike.
 
gabriel barata said:
I wanted to know about a person leaning on ice skates to make the turn, just like the person on the bike.
I don't think precession plays a role in this case.
 
A.T. said:
I don't think precession plays a role in this case.
So a high speed ice skater is no more stable than a low speed ice skater?
 
gabriel barata said:
So a high speed ice skater is no more stable than a low speed ice skater?
Moving fast by itself does not create stability against falling over to the side.

But the mechanisms of dynamic stability can be very complex, especially for the human body and its interaction with the ice. When you bring steering into it, it gets complicated, even for simple bikes:

 
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