Interactive gyroscope simulator showing angular momentum, torque and precession. Spin up the rotor to see how L = Iω resists tilting — and when gravity applies torque, the gyroscope precesses instead of falling.
A spinning gyroscope resists changes to its orientation because angular momentum L is a conserved vector. Gravity creates a torque τ = r × mg perpendicular to L, causing the spin axis to precess at rate Ω = τ/L rather than topple.
Increase the spin speed and observe how the gyroscope holds steady. Reduce spin to see it wobble and eventually topple. The vectors L, τ, and Ω are drawn live to show their perpendicular relationships.
Gyroscopic precession explains why a thrown boomerang returns, why a bicycle stays upright at speed, and how spacecraft attitude control uses reaction wheels — all based on conservation of angular momentum.