On the motion of a rigid body about a stationary point fixed on the earth's surface

Abstract

As we know, the classical Euler-Poisson equations describing the motion of a heavy rigid body about a stationary point are approximate in the case of coordinate systems rigidly fixed to the earth. In order to derive the exact equations one must take into account the Coriolis inertial forces and replace the parallel gravitational force field with a Newtonian central force field.