# Gyroscopic stability of the yo-yo

1. Apr 11, 2007

### boarder007

hi I'm from belgium and i've got a problem...
We have to do a science project and I have chose to study the yoyo
But now we got problems... we need to calculate the rotation speed but the yoyo goes to fast and we can't see it ... we have tried with a camera but still it's to fast?
Is there anybody that can help me with measurements?
other problem is the gyroscopic stability... when you remove weigt at one side, the yoyo is turning but I can't explain why? can somebody help me with these problems...

2. Apr 12, 2007

### Tom Mattson

Staff Emeritus
1. What kind of equipment do you have for measuring? Perhaps a video camera that has a slow motion playback?

2. Are you familiar with Newton's second law in rotational form?

$$\vec{\tau}_{NET}=\frac{d\vec{L}}{dt}$$

3. Apr 12, 2007

### boarder007

I don't now anything of it
I thing it has all to do with the momento... more mass how bigger the momento ...

4. Apr 14, 2007

### Tom Mattson

Staff Emeritus
What's "momento"? Do you mean "moment" (as in "torque"), or do you mean "momentum"?