The use of torque and centripedal force

[fredreload]

So I was thinking, I remember a physics experience where you hold and spin the wheel on a stick, if you hold the left side of the stick, the right side would stay up because of torque. Now if you assume the force of torque to be going up to counteract gravity and the other side of the torque where you hold the stick with the centripetal force of going away from a circle, can you sustain an object in mid air?

 

[Doc Al]

Realize that you still have to support the weight of the wheel.

 

[Stephen Tashi]

You might be interested in this explanation on YouTube:

which ,after you answer the poll, continues with:

 

[fredreload]

That's where you transfer the centripetal force using torque into an upward force. I suppose I was really not getting how the other side of the wheel around the stick manages to stay up.

 

[fredreload]

That is one cool video but there was not much explanation. This UFO citing and lack of sleep is getting to my head, I'll check the post tomorrow.



A centripetal force would make it move in a outward direction, so just centripetal force and a lowering angle would work.

 

[fredreload]

Nevermind, you still need an upward force, thanks for the video.

 

[CWatters]

Gyro produce torques rather than linear forces. If you try to make a machine that self levitates by using contra rotating gyros they tend to bend the machine rather than lift it.