An Application of the Theory of Coulomb Friction to Nutation and Precession in a Gyroscope

Abstract

The phenomenon considered is the transitory motion which takes place immediately following the removal of a support from the spinning rotor of a gyroscope. There, the damped nutation which is observed quickly gives way to a steady-state precession. A model involving Coulomb friction is put forward to fully explain the character of the gyroscopic motions and to properly account for the loss in energy of the system.