One of the favorite children's toys is a topor yule. You unleash it - it also stands on one leg, only the bright stripes on the sidewall merge into a solid color spot. It would seem the most common, simple children's toy, and the basis of its behavior is such a physical phenomenon as the gyroscopic effect. While such a top is still, it does not represent any interest, it is simply impossible to put it upright. But it is worth unwinding it - then real miracles begin.
It is the rotational movement that causesthe stability of the top. Due to the friction forces at the pivot point, the rotation slows down, and when it stops, the top changes. The stability of the toy gives a gyroscopic effect. It is created by the centrifugal force arising during the rotation of the whirligig. If you unwind it well, then even if the whirlpool initially stood at an angle, it will become vertical. The top is always set so that the axis of rotation and the direction of gravity coincide.
If you try to deflect the top from the verticalposition, he begins to make some fluctuations that have a special name - precession. The axis of the top in this phenomenon describes a cone-like figure in the space around the vertical line. The stronger the spin is turned, the more stable it will be. The more massive the toy will be and the higher its speed, the more gyroscopic it can develop. By this term is meant the product of the angular velocity of the top (rotor) at the moment of inertia of the rotor's own rotation.
The described case is only one of the few possibleexamples of rotating bodies. Their main feature is the stability of the body with respect to the axis of rotation. To increase the stability of the bullet and exclude its tumbling in the air, it is forced to rotate in flight. Achieve this with screw thread in the barrel. The rotating bullet retains its position and direction throughout the flight.
From the above example, it is clear thatgyroscopic effect is used not only as a children's toy. The stability of a rotating disk has its use in engineering. On this principle - the resistance to attempts to change the position of the rotating disk, the so-called gyroscopic stabilizers are built. They work on sea vessels as devices for damping.
Invented and a special device - a gyroscope.In fact, a gyroscope is the same top. With this device, the axis is placed in a special suspension and can rotate freely in it. Gyro can serve as a compass. If it is strongly unwound, the axis of its rotation will be directed along the earth's meridian, pointing to the north. Such a device is called a gyrocompass.
Gyrocompass has certain advantages.in front of a regular magnetic compass. Thus, the error of the magnetic compass is often quite large, especially in areas near the poles. In such cases, it is best to use a gyrocompass. There are many other devices with the use of gyroscopic effect - gyro horizon, gyro-tachometers, gyro-stabilizing platforms.
Even the Earth itself is a gianttop, making one revolution per day. This top has precessional vibrations. The same giant spin represents the Sun. Apparently, everything in the Universe rotates around its own axis. And not only stars, but also nebulae, and galaxies.
Considering as an example a spinning top,firmly standing on one point and resisting attempts to change its position, it was possible to learn that a surprisingly interesting and useful phenomenon, such as the gyroscopic effect, lies at the basis of this behavior.
