How Does a Spinning Bicycle Wheel Defy Gravity?

AI Thread Summary
A spinning bicycle wheel maintains its vertical position due to the principles of angular momentum and gyroscopic stability. When the wheel is spun, the forces acting on it create a torque that results in precession, allowing it to resist changes in orientation. Once the wheel stops spinning, it loses this stability and falls to a horizontal position. This phenomenon illustrates the fundamental concepts of rotational motion and gyroscopic effects. Understanding these principles can enhance comprehension of various physical systems and their behaviors.
AARMA
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In a class demonstration, a bicycle wheel was held on an axle and spun. The result came to be that the wheel while rotating held a vertical position while holding it by a string attached to the end of the axle. After the wheel stopped rotating its vertical position ceased and the wheel attained a horizontal position.

How and why does that happen?
 
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can someone explain with his own words.. :)
 
AARMA said:
In a class demonstration, a bicycle wheel was held on an axle and spun.

On physicsforums:
See this post from november 2010 about https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2992527&postcount=3".


More detailed discussion is in the http://www.cleonis.nl/physics/phys256/gyroscope_physics.php" article on my website.
 
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