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Old 04-03-2007, 02:05 PM
PairTheBoard PairTheBoard is offline
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Default Re: Physics Q (x post)

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't this just a form of precession?

Wiki - Precession

[/ QUOTE ]

This may apply to the problem, but I'm not sure how it applies to my theory that the positions of polarity of the two magnets are out of opposite synch at the beginning. The problem I have with my theory is that I don't see why it would imply a bias in one direction or the other. For the clockwise spin, at the top the Back - pole is pulling the Front + pole to the left, while the Front + pole is pulling the back - pole to the right. I don't see any directional bias. And even if there were, the forces at the bottom would be working in just the opposite way.

As far as precession, it seems like you need 3 diminsions for that. Here, the rotation is fixed in 2 dimensions by the glass.

PairTheBoard
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