On a Dynamical Top, for exhibiting the phenomena of the motion of a system of invariable form about a fixed point, with some suggestions as to the Earth's motionMaxwell, James Clerk
Science
On a Dynamical Top, for exhibiting the phenomena of the motion of a system of invariable form about a fixed point, with some suggestions as to the Earth's motion
Maxwell, James Clerk
Force and energy; Motion
The projections of the spherical ellipses upon the plane of $yz$ are
all similar ellipses, and described in the same number of revolutions;
and in each ellipse so projected, the area described in any time is
proportional to the number of revolutions of the body about the axis of
$x$, so that if we measure time by revolutions of the body, the motion
of the projection of the pole of the invariable axis is identical with
that of a body acted on by an attractive central force varying directly
as the distance. In the case of the hyperbolas in the plane of the
greatest and least axis, this force must be supposed repulsive. The
dots in the figures 1, 2, 3, are intended to indicate roughly the
progress made by the invariable axis during each revolution of the body
about the axis of $x$, $y$ and $z$ respectively. It must be remembered
that the rotation about these axes varies with their inclination to the
invariable axis, so that the angular velocity diminishes as the
inclination increases, and therefore the areas in the ellipses above
mentioned are not described with uniform velocity in absolute time, but
are less rapidly swept out at the extremities of the major axis than at
those of the minor.
* When two of the axes have equal moments of inertia, or $b = c$, then
the angular velocity $\omega_1$ is constant, and the path of the
invariable axis is circular, the number of revolutions of the body
during one circuit of the invariable axis, being
\begin{displaymath} \frac{a^2}{b^2 - a^2} \end{displaymath}
The motion is in the same direction as that of the rotation, or in the
opposite direction, according as the axis of $x$ is that of greatest or
of least moment of inertia.
* Both in this case, and in that in which the three axes are unequal,
the motion of the invariable axis in the body may be rendered very slow
by diminishing the difference of the moments of inertia. The angular
velocity of the axis of $x$ about the invariable axis in space is
\begin{displaymath} \omega_1\frac{e^2 - a^2l^2}{a^2(1 - l^2)},
\end{displaymath}
which is greater or less than $\omega_1$, as $e^2$ is greater or less
than $a^2$, and, when these quantities are nearly equal, is very nearly
the same as $\omega_1$ itself. This quantity indicates the rate of
revolution of the axle of the top about its mean position, and is very
easily observed.
* The _instantaneous axis_ is not so easily observed. It revolves round
the invariable axis in the same time with the axis of $x$, at a
distance which is very small in the case when $a$, $b$, $c$, are nearly
equal. From its rapid angular motion in space, and its near coincidence
with the invariable axis, there is no advantage in studying its motion
in the top.
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