What Are the Units for Precession Rate (Ω)?

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SUMMARY

The precession rate, denoted as Ω, is calculated using the formula Ω = Mgr / Iω, resulting in units of 1/(rad·s). This indicates that Ω can be interpreted as revolutions per second, effectively treating radians as dimensionless. The period T is derived from Ω using the equation T = 2π/Ω, yielding units of seconds per revolution. The discussion emphasizes the understanding that radians do not carry dimensional weight in these calculations.

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lightlightsup
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Homework Statement
The precession rate is given as ##Ω = \frac{Mgr}{Iω}##.
Relevant Equations
What are the units here?: I'm calculating it as ##\frac{1}{rad . s}##.
The precession rate is given as ##Ω = \frac{Mgr}{Iω}##.
What are the units here?: I'm calculating it as ##\frac{1}{rad . s}##.
Am I supposed to interpret this as revolutions per second, sort of like frequency, and ignore the ##rad##?
Also, period is calculated as: ##T = \frac{2π}{Ω}##. So, ##T##'s units are ##\frac{s}{rev}##?
I'm guessing that I don't quite understand yet how ##rads## are ignored in the calculations.
Edit: This refers to gyroscopic precession wherein gravity is the only force causing a torque.
 
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lightlightsup said:
Homework Statement: The precession rate is given as ##Ω = \frac{Mgr}{Iω}##.
Homework Equations: What are the units here?: I'm calculating it as ##\frac{1}{rad . s}##.
I get 1/s, which would be the same as the units for ω...

EDIT -- can you show the units you have for the first equation, and what you cancel to get your result?
 
berkeman said:
I get 1/s, which would be the same as the units for ω...

We're ignoring ##rads##, I guess? Because they are considered "dimensionless" ratios?
 
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berkeman said:
I get 1/s, which would be the same as the units for ω...

EDIT -- can you show the units you have for the first equation, and what you cancel to get your result?

##Ω =\frac{Mgr}{Iω} = \frac{kg . \frac{m}{s^2} . m}{kg.m^2.\frac{rads}{s}} = \frac{1}{rad.s} ##
##T = \frac{2π}{Ω} = \frac{\frac{2π}{rad}}{\frac{1}{rad.s}} = s##

I'm sure there is some hole in my logic here somewhere.
 
Since radians are dimensionless, don't carry them along as units. In that case, you get the correct units for Omega, IMO.
 
lightlightsup said:
##Ω =\frac{Mgr}{Iω} = \frac{kg . \frac{m}{s^2} . m}{kg.m^2.\frac{rads}{s}} = \frac{1}{rad.s} ##
##T = \frac{2π}{Ω} = \frac{\frac{2π}{rad}}{\frac{1}{rad.s}} = s##

I'm sure there is some hole in my logic here somewhere.
Over the years there have been numerous attempts to assign a dimension to angles. You can find mine at https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/can-angles-assigned-dimension/
In respect of this thread, the interesting feature is that if we write the dimensionality as Θ then Θ2=1. So 1/rads is the same as rads.
 

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