Undergrad Steering a Car: Investigating the Forces of Rotation

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on the forces involved in steering a car, particularly the impact of the gyroscopic effect of spinning wheels. When attempting to rotate the wheel around the X-axis while it spins on the Z-axis, there is a resistance due to gyroscopic forces that must be overcome. The relationship between the applied torque on the X-axis and the resulting rotation is influenced by the wheel's moment of inertia and rotational speed. Additionally, the steering system's geometry contributes to resistance by naturally guiding the wheels back to a straight position. Overall, understanding these dynamics is crucial for comprehending vehicle handling and steering behavior.
cccc
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
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?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome!
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]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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?
 
Topic about reference frames, center of rotation, postion of origin etc Comoving ref. frame is frame that is attached to moving object, does that mean, in that frame translation and rotation of object is zero, because origin and axes(x,y,z) are fixed to object? Is it same if you place origin of frame at object center of mass or at object tail? What type of comoving frame exist? What is lab frame? If we talk about center of rotation do we always need to specified from what frame we observe?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
618
  • · Replies 73 ·
3
Replies
73
Views
10K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K