Steering a Car: Investigating the Forces of Rotation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the gyroscopic effect experienced when steering a car, specifically the resistance encountered when attempting to rotate the wheels about the X-axis while they are spinning about the Z-axis. Key factors influencing this resistance include the rotational speed and moment of inertia of the tire. The conversation highlights the relationship between the applied torque on the X-axis and the resultant rotation while constraining movement on the Y-axis. Additionally, the geometry of the steering system contributes to the overall resistance, promoting a tendency for the wheels to return to a straight direction.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gyroscopic effects in physics
  • Knowledge of torque and rotational motion
  • Familiarity with moment of inertia concepts
  • Basic principles of automotive steering systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical relationship between torque and angular acceleration in rotating systems
  • Explore the principles of gyroscopic stability in vehicles
  • Study the design and function of automotive steering geometries
  • Investigate the effects of rotational dynamics in aircraft, particularly in relation to torque roll
USEFUL FOR

Automotive engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in the dynamics of vehicle steering and gyroscopic effects will benefit from this discussion.

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TL;DR
Questions about steering a spinning wheel. Does gyroscopic force oppose me?
In a car we turn the wheels to steer. The wheels however are spinning about their axis of rotation when the car is in motion. Does the revolving motion of the wheels cause a force that opposes trying to rotate the wheels around the other axis to steer? How much opposition is created?

gyro_illustration.JPG


Here's an image to illustrate. Suppose the wheel is quickly spinning about Z. I want to rotate the wheel about X to steer my car. I will not allow any rotation about Y. How hard is it to rotate the wheel about X?
 
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Spinning the steering wheels in the air could give you the actual resistance of the gyroscopic effect.
When rolling on the road and steering, there is additional resistance from the geometry of the steering system, which is built into make the wheels to tend to come back to a straight direction by themselves.

The gyroscopic effect depends on the rotational speed and moment of inertia of the tire.
 
So I'm just concerned about the resistance to turning the wheels due to the gyroscopic effect. To say it more succinctly, I need to know the relationship between the torque I apply on the X axis and the resultant rotation (speed, acceleration) about X all while Y is constrained so it cannot rotate that way. I know the mass of the wheel, its moment of inertia, rotation speed of the wheel etc.

This is out of my area of expertise (I'm an EE not a physicist).

[Post edited by a Mentor]
 
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cccc said:
Summary: Questions about steering a spinning wheel. Does gyroscopic force oppose me?

Here's an image to illustrate. Suppose the wheel is quickly spinning about Z. I want to rotate the wheel about X to steer my car. I will not allow any rotation about Y. How hard is it to rotate the wheel about X?
Wow, my "google-fu" has slipped big time---WW memoirs mention this effect yielding a "preferred direction" for aircraft turns; https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/the-torque-roll.21319/ . And, P-38 was designed to prefer neither direction (counter-rotating props) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning .

I would expect automobiles to exhibit similar biases; perhaps the CCW tracks in the northern hemisphere?
 

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