given force, situated in a plane normal to a principal axis of inertia, non-intersecting
this axis, the trace of which on the plane being a fixed point. We obtain an analogous
result if the support of the given force passes through a fixed point, the axis of rotation
(which is a principal axis of inertia) passing through the same point; in this case, we
have
=
3
0
O
M , hence =M0
O
too, being led to a motion of uniform rotation
(corresponding to the equation (14.2.2)), so that
′
=− −
2
111
RRMρω ,
′
=− −
2
222
RRMρω ,
′
=−
33
RR.
(14.2.5')
We can state
Theorem 14.2.1 If a rigid solid with a fixed point is subjected to the action of a system
of given forces equivalent to a resultant the support of which passes through this point
and if this solid has an initial uniform motion of rotation about a principal axis of
inertia which passes, as well, through the very same fixed point, then the rigid solid
continuous to have this motion indefinitely.
In this case, the axis of rotation is called permanent axis of rotation; sometimes, this
denomination (justified by the Theorem 14.1.21) is used also in the more general case
≠
3
0
O
M .
The supplementary condition which imposes the vanishing of the constraint force at
the point O too (
′
=
R0), for any rotation of the rigid solid, leads to ==
12
0ρρ ,
===
123
0RRR . If and only if the axis of rotation is a central principal axis of
inertia, the rigid solid being acted upon only by a couple contained in a plane normal
to this axis, then no point of support is necessary for that axis; in this case, the axis of
rotation is a free axis of rotation, and the fixed axle is not acted by a given force. If
=
3
0
O
M , hence if =M0
O
too, then we can state
Theorem 14.2.2 If a free rigid solid is not acted upon by any given force and has a
uniform motion of rotation about a central principal axis of inertia, then it will continue
to have this motion indefinitely, the axis remaining fixed.
In this case, the free axis of rotation is called spontaneous axis of rotation;
sometimes, this denomination (justified by the Theorem 14.2.2) is used also in the more
general case in which
≠
3
0
O
M . This result can be verified experimentally in a space
laboratory, in conditions of imponderability. The Theorem 14.2.2 can be considered as
a completion for the rigid solid of Newton’s “principle of inertia”, enounced for a
particle (eventually for the mass centre of the rigid solid).
We call physical (rigid, compound) pendulum a rigid solid which is rotating about a
horizontal fixed axis, being subjected only to the action of its own weight. We take the
′′′
23
Ox x -plane as horizontal plane, the fixed axis as
′′
3
Ox -axis, the
′′
1
Ox -axis being
along the descendent vertical. Without any loss of generality, the
1
Ox -axis will be
taken so as to pass through the centre of mass C, at which acts the own weight
G; the
position of the rigid solid will be thus specified by the angle of proper rotation
14.2.1.2 Physical Pendulum. Huygens’s Theorems
242
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, CLASSICAL MODELS