Caption: An animation of a gyroscope in precession.
The gyroscope in this situation is acting like a toy top in precession.
Gravity tries to topple the gyroscope, but since the gyroscope has angular momentum due to its axial rotation (which is NOT visible in the animation), it goes into precession.
The animation is only meant to be qualitatively correct.
Precession is a pretty common effect actually, but it defies any simple explanation.
Credit/Permission: User:Kieff,
2007 /
Public domain.
Image link:
Wikipedia:
File:Gyroscope precession.gif.
Local file: local link: precession_gyroscope.html.
File: Mechanics file:
precession_gyroscope.html.
