The original poster investigates the minimum rotational kinetic energy required for a gyroscope to precess without falling over, focusing on energy loss due to surface friction. The context involves measuring the time it takes for the gyroscope to fall when subjected to torque, with an interest in the relationship between angular velocity and kinetic energy.
Participants are exploring various interpretations of the problem, with some offering insights into the complexities of gyroscopic motion and energy loss. There is no explicit consensus, but several lines of inquiry have been proposed, including measuring initial energies and the effects of surface friction.
There are discussions about the lack of a clear dividing line between precession and falling, as well as the potential impact of the gyroscope's supporting structure on its behavior during experiments. The original poster has not yet recorded specific data on the structure's rotation, which may be relevant to their investigation.
Okay, I understand how the equations for new Torques are derived. Does moment of inertia (I) work analogously, because τ = Iα, sohutchphd said:Feynman does a good job on precession. In particular fig. 20-6 and its environs.