Abstract
We propose a new method of attacking problems in rigid body rotation, focusing on the heavy symmetric top. The technique is a direct extension of the method traditionally applied to the free symmetric top. We write Euler's equations in a frame which is attached to the top and thus shares its entire angular velocity. The structure of the resulting equations is such that it is advantageous to cast and solve them in terms of complex variables (space phasors). Through this formalism, we obtain a direct link between the initial conditions at the time of launch and the subsequent behavior of the top. The insertion of a damping term allows us to further explain the behavior of a top where the pivot is non-ideal and has friction. Finally, we make some suggestions regarding experimental verification of our results.
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