The Report for
111-2 Data Analysis Assignment
NTU General Physics
Laboratory March 2023
Final V1.0
1 Introduction
This experiment is divided into two parts: In the first part, we first find the rotation angular
velocity of the disk when the voltage is in the equilibrium position at different voltages, and
then observe the precession half-turn period at different voltages when the weight shifts
inward, and then find the reference value
− and experimental value of the precession angular
velocity according to the obtained data, and then further find the experimental value of
moment of inertia with an error of 28%. The second part is to observe the half of periods of
the gyroscope precession at different positions of the weight with a fixed voltage. And then
find the experimental value of the precession angular velocity according to the obtained data,
and then further calculate the experimental value of the moment of inertia, with an error of
−5%.
2 Method
1. Using the bubble level as a guide to adjust the leveling of the gyro base.
2. Adjust the position of the weight to balance the central rod, and record the position.
- Fine thread adjustment screw can be used to make the weight just align with a scale,
which is good for quantitative positioning of the weight.
3. Turn on the infrared transceiver and connect it to the digital oscilloscope.
4. Set the power supply voltage output to 4 V to initiate the spin. No precession should be
seen.
5. Align the transceiver with the midpoint of a radius of the disk, 0.5~2 cm from the tape.
– Make sure to keep the IR transceiver from contacting the disk to avoid damage at all
times.
6. Observe the infrared detection from the oscilloscope to see if the disk is rotating stably.
– Adjust the trigger level to make sure the signal is not disturbed by noise.
7. Measure the spinning frequency of the gyro (from the oscilloscope reading) to
calculate the spin angular velocity.
8. Move the weight 0.7 cm inward, and observe the precession of the gyro.
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9. Measure the time of the precession for half turn TP (by naked eye) to calculate the
precession angular velocity.
- When precession, if the unstable jump (known as nutation) is too intense, one can try to
hold the weight by hand and provide an initial speed to reduce the nutation.
10. Vary the spin angular velocity of the gyro by setting voltage output to ±(4, 5, 6) V for
measurements.
- Negativity means the opposite direction of spin, which can be achieved by switching the
poles of wires.
11. Fix the voltage output to 6 V , and adjust the position of the weight from 0.7 cm inwards to
0.7 cm outwards, and observe the precession.
12. Turn off the powers of the equipment and put back the apparatus.
3 Analysis
3.1 Spin
Change the voltage of the power supply ±(4, 5, 6) V to find the precession angular velocity
corresponding to different spin angular velocities
Output voltage -6V -5V -4V 4V 5V 6V
Spin angular momentum Point to Point to Point to Point off Point off Point off
direction the pivot the pivot the pivot the pivot the pivot the pivot
38.69 31.88 24.55 23.73 30.56 36.31
Rotation frequency f 38.69 31.88 24.56 23.74 30.56 36.31
38.69 31.88 24.55 23.74 30.57 36.30
f Frequency average 38.69 31.88 24.55 23.73 30.56 36.31
ω=2πf -243.1 -200.3 -154.3 149.1 192.0 228.1
ω𝑝 = N × 2π/T𝑝 (N = 1/2)
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3.2 Precession (fixed torque)
Next, move the weight inward ∆ l = 0.7cm, observe the precession of the gyro, and calculate the
precession angular velocities at different spin angular velocities.
Output voltage -6V -5V -4V 4V 5V 6V
Precession direction
Clockwise Clockwise Clockwise Counterclock Counterclock Counterclock
(seen from above).
7.2 5.44 4.1 4.37 5.58 7.08
Precession time T𝑝 . 7.25 5.69 4.31 4.47 5.54 7.23
7.26 5.72 4.19 4.46 5.44 7.18
T𝑝 average value
7.24 5.62 4.2 4.43 5.52 7.16
ω𝑝 0.43 0.56 0.75 0.71 0.57 0.44
ω𝑝 -1 /ω
0.8
0.7 y = 121.84x - 0.0708
R² = 0.9617
0.6
0.5
0.4 Data
線性(Data)
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008
For a ω𝑝 -1 /ω plot, the best line is fitted by the least square method.
And its slope, = m g ∆ l / I = 121.8 𝑠 2 , which means the moment of inertia of the disk I = 1109 g ∙ c𝑚2 .
So, the error from reference value 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓 ( 1550 g ∙ c𝑚2 ) is – 28 %.
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3.3 Precession (Precession (fix spin))
Fixed voltage at 6 V, change the pressure position∆ l, and measure the corresponding
precession angular velocity ω𝑝 .
∆ l (cm) -0.70 -0.60 -0.50 -0.40 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70
Precession
direction Counter- Counter- Counter- Counter-
Clockwise Clockwise Clockwise Clockwise
(seen from clock clock clock clock
above).
7.9 9.13 10.85 13.63 14.93 11.77 9.32 7.08
Precessio
n time 7.96 9.17 10.97 13.96 14.66 11.6 9.22 7.23
T𝑝
7.85 9.07 10.95 13.63 14.86 11.94 9.4 7.18
T𝑝
average 7.90 9.12 10.92 13.74 14.82 11.77 9.31 7.16
value
ω𝑝 0.40 0.34 0.29 -0.23 0.21 0.27 0.34 0.44
ω𝑝 -1 /ω
0.5
0.4 y = 0.5762x - 8E-18
0.3 R² = 0.9974
0.2
0.1
Data
0
線性(Data)
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
For a ω𝑝 - ∆l plot, the best line is fitted by the least square method.
And its slope, = mg / Iω = 0.5745 𝑐𝑚−1 ∙ 𝑠 −1,
which means the moment of inertia of the disk I = 1471 g ∙ c𝑚2.
So, the error from reference value 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓 ( 1550 g ∙ c𝑚2 ) is – 5 %.
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4 Discussion
4.1 Precession (fixed torque)
By measuring the spin angular velocity at different voltages, and then moving the weight inward
∆ l = -0.7 cm, the gyro precession time was measured. Calculate the experimental value of precession
angular velocity, and then make a ω𝑝 -1 /ω plot to obtain the experimental value of moment of
inertia I, and find the error from the theoretical value.
ω𝑝 -1 /ω
0.8
0.7 y = 121.84x - 0.0708
R² = 0.9617
0.6
0.5
0.4 Data
線性(Data)
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008
The horizontal axis is 1/ω; The vertical axis is the experimental value of the precession angular velocity
ω𝑝 , and the trend line is drawn by the least square method and its slope is obtained.
The slope is 121.8 𝑠 2 , which means the moment of inertia of the disk I = 1109 g ∙ c𝑚2.
So, the error from reference value 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓 ( 1550 g ∙ c𝑚2 ) is – 28 %.
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4.2 Precession (Precession (fix spin))
The voltage is fixed at 7V, the voltage position is changed by ∆l, and the precession time, T𝑝 , is
measured, and the corresponding angular velocity, ω𝑝 , is calculated by formula .
ω𝑝 -1 /ω
0.5
0.4 y = 0.5762x - 8E-18
0.3 R² = 0.9974
0.2
0.1
Data
0
線性(Data)
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
The horizontal axis is ∆l; The vertical axis is ω𝑝 , and the trend line is drawn using the the least square
method and its slope is displayed.
The resulting slope = mg / I ω = 0.5745 𝑐𝑚−1 ∙ 𝑠 −1 , which means the disk moment of inertia I =
1471.48 g ∙ c𝑚2, compared to the reference value error 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓 ， – 5 % 。
4.3 Error
1 When measuring the half period of precession of the gyroscope T𝑝 , the revolution may not be
accurate due to human operation, and the error caused by this misjudgment may be much larger
than other factors.
2 When the gyro is in precession, even if it looks smooth, it still cannot make the system
completely free from the nutation.
3 When the gyro gyroscope rotates, the torque generated by friction and gravity will also cause
measurement errors. Among them, when the angular speed of spin is small, that is, the voltage is
small, the impact on it will be relatively greater.
4 When measuring the rotation frequency of the gyro disk by infrared transceiver, the number of
the oscilloscope is not stable due to environmental factors and other factors, which will also
cause errors.
4.4 Conclusion
Suggestions for improving the analysis is taking into account the effects of friction. If friction is taken
into account, the angular momentum caused by gravity can be corrected, which has the opportunity to
make the error of the experimental value of the precession angular velocity measured at different
voltages more consistent. Besides, in this experiment, I can actually observe the relatively difficult
phenomenon of "precession", which is very helpful for my study.
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5 References
National Taiwan University General Physics Experiment, National Taiwan University
Publishing Center.
https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1922PA.....30..390M
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1000936114001253
Friction Reduction for a Rotational Gyroscope with Mechanical Support by
Fabrication of a Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Surface on a Ball-Disk Shaped Rotor
and the Application of a Water Film Bearing, July 2017 Micromachines 8(7):223
