Pop Quiz #3

[GBullet]

Pop Quiz #3:

What is :
precession?
nutation?


Precession is the tendancy for gyroscopes to deflect +90 degrees out of phase to a force aplied normal to their rotational plane.

Suppose that we spin one of those "wheel-in-a-frame" gyroscopes that we used to play with when we were kids. Let's hold it so the gyroscope "wheel" is sideways to the ground. Next, we mark a dot on the wheel and spin it so that the dot goes from north to west to south to east to north again.

If we push the top of the gyroscope south, the top will try to lean towards the east. This is due to the precession effect.

Now, let's set the still spinning gyroscope on a table. Notice that it wobbles a bit, following a curly-cue pattern? That's called nutation.

Bullets are tiny gyroscopes. They have their own precession and nutation, too.

[Chippathingy]

Basically, yes.
Very good Sir

[Aslan]

same thing pilots of small airplanes experience on take off - they call it P-factor and it is why you have to apply additional rudder to keep the nose pointed straight ahead.

The propeller is basically acting as a huge (relative to the plane) gyroscope.

:devil:

[GBullet]

same thing pilots of small airplanes experience on take off - they call it P-factor...

When you see your pilot walking out of the bar and toward the plane they call it the pee factor. ;)

[Aslan]

You don't think anyone would fly a small plane sober do you?

:devil: