Conical Pendulum: Physics Behind Its One-Way Motion

[ys2050]

When you hang a pendulum from the ceiling and spin it, (conical pendulum) why does it only spin in one direction? What's the physics behind the motion and the forces of it that makes it spin in only one direction?

 

[stewartcs]

When you hang a pendulum from the ceiling and spin it, (conical pendulum) why does it only spin in one direction? What's the physics behind the motion and the forces of it that makes it spin in only one direction?

Because you spun it in one direction.

CS

 

[stewartcs]

Here is some more info about them...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conical_pendulum

CS

 

[ys2050]

Because you spun it in one direction.

CS

but if you spin it in opposite direction, it won't travel in a circle...;;

 

[Doc Al]

but if you spin it in opposite direction, it won't travel in a circle...;;

Why not?