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I'm not a physics student, but am attempting to better understand gyroscope physics. Also my first post here. So, I'm looking at this site, at the second diagram with F_1 and F_2, and reading the text above it, to paraphrase: F_1 and F_2 act in opposite directions, therefore a clockwise torque M, which is generated by gravity, is needed to sustain these forces. I'm not following this statement about what M is and why it is needed, and its depiction in the diagram is a bit confounding to me. Can anyone explain this to me?

Qmechanic
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Erik Jensen
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1 Answers1

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The forces F1 and F2 do not act on the center of mass of the spinning top. Therefore they exert a torque on the object. See for a definition of torque https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque.

my2cts
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