MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: Can an object rotate freely about two or more axes in space?

Date: Mon May 3 14:29:17 2004
Posted by Quincy
Grade level: undergrad School: U of M, Flint
City: Flint State/Province: MI Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1083612557.Ph
Message:

Recently I ran across this website. http://www.inertialessdrive.com/

Because of the name I thought it was absurd, but some time later I noticed 
that if you take a quarter and spin it on a table, you can make it rotate 
along the short axis through its thin dimension and along the long axis 
parallel to its face. A cone shape will also rotate in two dimensions when 
rolling on a surface.

Could this be made to happen in space? Can an object be made to rotate freely 
about multiple axes without a surface to push against? I guess what I'm asking 
is if the momentum of each plane of rotation is conserved separately? Or will 
they settle somehow into a single plane of rotation?

Are there any books or other references that deal with multiple axes of 
rotation?


Re: Can an object rotate freely about two or more axes in space?

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