Repetition of videos
(1) In this video the gyroscope is spun up then released from the above position.(2) In this video a weight is placed on the other side of the arm to the rotor so that the arm is balanced. Three different weights were used in the repetition of this video to establish if this had any effect on the observed motion, videos of this are shown below.
Explanation of motion
In the second demonstration a counter weight is added to the arm so that the arm is balanced in the following position.
The arm is then released with the rotor spinning from the following position.
Arm initially balanced in above position
Arm released from above position
It can be seen from the repeated videos that the mass of the weight used has no effect on the subsequent motion. The motion is observed to be different to that seen in Laithwaite's demonstration, an analysis of the motion is carried out in order to establish a reason for this. Go here to see this analysis. This analysis shows that moment of momentum and energy are conserved regardless of angle the arm forms with the horizontal.