precess
Wobble while spinning
To precess is to undergo precession—a slow, conical wobbling motion of a spinning object's axis.
The Earth precesses on its axis over a 26,000-year cycle, gradually shifting which stars appear at the poles.
Gyroscopes and spinning tops also precess when tilted.
The term belongs mainly to physics and astronomy: The planet's axis precesses due to gravitational forces.
Equal day and night
- axial tiltRotational axis deviation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
- obliquityAngular deviation from perpendicular
celestial pole · sidereal · Polaris · perihelion · binary stars · orbital plane · general relativity · Einstein
Spinning disc measuring orientation
- torqueRotational force measurement
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
- rigid bodyIdealized undeformable object
top · spinning top · conservation · moment of inertia · perturbation · electron spin · proton · magnetometer
Unsteady side-to-side motion
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- tiltAngular deviation from level
- swayRock back and forth
- noddingMoving head affirmatively
rocking · instability · cone · trace · deviation · gradual shift
equinoxes
Equal day and night
- axial tiltRotational axis deviation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
obliquity · celestial pole · sidereal · Polaris · perihelion · binary stars · orbital plane · general relativity · Einstein
gyroscope
Spinning disc measuring orientation
- torqueRotational force measurement
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- nutationOscillation in rotation axis
rigid body · top · spinning top · conservation · moment of inertia · perturbation · electron spin · proton · magnetometer
wobble
Unsteady side-to-side motion
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- tiltAngular deviation from level
- swayRock back and forth
nodding · rocking · instability · cone · trace · deviation · gradual shift
- historical precedentPast event informing present
- legal precedentPrior ruling with authority
- apsidal precessionRotation of orbital orientation
- judicial precedentPrior ruling guiding courts
- precedent settingEstablishing basis for future decisions
- binding precedentPrior ruling courts must follow
precede, precedent, precession, precessions, precessing, precessed