Posted by Jonathan (68.14.212.239) on October 18, 2003 at 20:44:48:
I too have been interested by gyros, and have noticed an interesting effect. If a nonspinning gyro is hung from a string, it just sits there. If one spins it fast and lifts its axle up to horizontal, it won't fall, but willgo around from precession. However, if one connects another string from the other end of the axle to the point of suspension so that the axle and original string have a 90 degree angle AND the gyro is not spinning, the whole thing tilts so that the center of mass is below the suspension point. So why does this not happen when spinning? I'll have to send a picture to scott...