(a) The angular momentum of a rigid body about its centre of mass is conserved.
Derive Euler's equations,
I1ω˙1=(I2−I3)ω2ω3I2ω˙2=(I3−I1)ω3ω1I3ω˙3=(I1−I2)ω1ω2
explaining the meaning of the quantities appearing in the equations.
(b) Show that there are two independent conserved quantities that are quadratic functions of ω=(ω1,ω2,ω3), and give a physical interpretation of them.
(c) Derive a linear approximation to Euler's equations that applies when ∣ω1∣≪∣ω3∣ and ∣ω2∣≪∣ω3∣. Use this to determine the stability of rotation about each of the three principal axes of an asymmetric top.