This demo aims to highlight the fundamental equation of precession, Q = IΩω, with a high precision gyroscope mounted on a counterweight.
Since both the moment of inertia of the gyroscope (I) and the torque produced by the counterweight (Q) are (approximately) constant, the equation says the angular speed of the precession (Ω) is inversely proportional to the angular speed of the gyroscope’s spin (ω).
Thus, when the gyroscope spins faster, the precession should be slower, and when the spin is slower, the precession is faster.
There is also an option to collect data from this demonstration to corroborate the equation quantitatively: there are markings on the gyroscope, so a high-frequency strobe light will allow a student to calculate the gyroscope’s angular speed. The precession’s angular speed can be calculated simply by recording the time it takes for one full revolution of the counterweight to occur, and both the torque and the moment of inertia of the gyroscope can be measured with relative ease (or, you could assume the equation is correct and use it to calculate the moment of inertia).
Location: B2-3