précession

CONT: Si l'on applique un couple à un gyroscope en rotation, couple appliqué sur un axe différent de son axe de rotation, il réagit à ce couple de manière à amener son axe de rotation parallèle à celui du couple appliqué, et ceci par le plus court chemin. Ce mouvement est dit «mouvement de précession» lorsqu'il est provoqué volontairement, et «dérive» lorsqu'il est dû à un élément perturbateur.
CONT: Mouvement de précession stable d'un gyroscope.

CONT: Gyroscopic precession ... When force is applied to a gyro, the device reacts as if the force had been applied at a point 90 degrees from the point of actual application, in the direction of rotation. Precession affects propellers, which act like gyros, and gyro instruments. Its principle effect is on the heading indicator, which tends to drift over time.
CONT: A gyroscope will not only resist being moved out of its vertical position, it will also generate force as it attempts to travel in large, circular patterns. These patterns are most easily seen with a spinning top. As the top begins losing its energy, it never simply spirals straight down in the same direction that it was originally spinning. As it destabilizes, it will always begin slowly rotating or precessing in a slow, even circle that is in the opposite direction to its normal spinning motion. These circular patterns are known as ""precessional"" motions, and they are another aspect of a gyroscope's movement that will occur either in air or in a vacuum and can be used to overcome gravity.