Kevin Tarr wrote:
...
> A can like structure would have more surface area where the gravity is,
> obviously one reason to use it in stories. But how are they unstable? Just
> asking because I don't know. Do you mean because they can tumble? If so,
> how much inertia would a wheel like structure need to not tumble?
I think the problem is that the spin axis might precess. Then
a "cigarette" shape would "prefer" to be spinning end-over-end, rather
than about its axis. So it would tend to wind up spinning end-over-end,
contrary to its original design.
---David
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