Does Gravity Effect The Spin Of An Object?

Question

If a ball were tossed up with a spin, would gravity have little or no effect on the spin?

Answer 1

Yes, check this out...

"Torque-induced precession

Torque-induced precession (gyroscopic precession) is the phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object (e.g. a part of a gyroscope) "wobbles" when a torque is applied to it. The phenomenon is commonly seen in a spinning toy top, but all rotating objects can undergo precession. If the speed of the rotation and the magnitude of the torque are constant the axis will describe a cone, its movement at any instant being at right angles to the direction of the torque. In the case of a toy top, if the axis is not perfectly vertical the torque is applied by the force of gravity tending to tip it over." [ See source.]

Key here is that the effect of the gravitational force (the torque) is at "right angles" to the torque. Since gravity pulls downward, the effect, that is the directioin of the wobble, is perpendicular to down (e.g., sideways). It is this perpendicular response that keeps gyroscopes oriented, bicycles from falling over, and so on. The math of this is very complex and requires a good understanding of vectors and/or tensors.

And, contrary to most other answers, precession can happen to "all rotating objects," even a baseball. [See above quote.]

Answer 2

I do not think the ball will have any effect by gravity because gravity only pulls down items and does not pull them down at a spinning angle.

Answer 3

Well, let's think about this in a bigger picture, shall we?

If the Earth's rotation depends on a gravitational pull and gravity reigns here on earth, it must effect everything. Either that or we would be able to not only float on the moon, but also here. Wind speeds would also have something to do with it and they in part are directed by gravity as well.

Answer 4

If the objects mass is balanced (like a perfectly weighted sphere - think a baseball) then it wouldn't have any effect. Air resistance is the only thing that would. If it is not balanced, than it would dramatically slow the spin - spin a half empty water bottle into the air.

Answer 5

Gravity would interfere because gravity focuses mostly on pulling it down. So the spin will stop and all it will do is fall.

Answer 6

It would have no effect, gravity is already acting on the ball moving it on the Y-axis (up and down). If there were any effect, it would be negligible.

Answer 7

yes