Gyroscope Won't Fall

Instead of falling, it slowly turns sideways. Ask students to predict what will happen. Spin it and support it from one end of its axle. Key idea: Angular momentum resists changes to the spin axis; gravity causes precession. Ask: Why doesn't it just fall down? Safety and cleanup: Keep spinning parts away from hair. https://ucscphysicsdemo.sites.ucsc.edu/toy-gyroscopes/