Tops, Gyroscopes and Angular Momentum

Synopsis

Examines the equation ‘rate of change of angular momentum equals torque’. The most common application of a spinning body is in a gyroscope. Gyroscopes are demonstrated, freely spinning, weighted, and spring-loaded with a forced rotation at right angles to direction of spin. Notes that a spinning top balances instead of falling over. To explain this, a new concept of momentum for spinning objects, angular momentum, has to be defined. Newton’s laws of motion can then be applied to explain this behaviour. Constant comparison of a simplified top made from a bicycle wheel on a shaft with cutaway models of this top form the basis of the discussion. The transition into spinning motion is effected with the use of a vector product, and a couple of three-dimensional ‘triads’ of vectors demonstrating vector products are used in conjunction with the models to find directions for angular momentum vectors.

Series

Mathematical Models and Methods, Course Mst204

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.

Year of production

1989

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Mathematics

Keywords

mathematical modelling; momentum; spinning bodies

Credits

Producer

Glan Thomas; Pip Surgey

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk