This is a description of rotational stability, gyroscopic stability is: http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/gyroscope-physics.html http://www.real-world-

This is a description of rotational stability, gyroscopic stability is: http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/gyroscope-physics.html http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/gyroscope-physics... Key point Gyroscopic stability also explains why a spinning axisymmetric projectile, such as a football, can have its symmetric (long) axis stay aligned with its flight trajectory, without tumbling end over end when in flight. The spin imparts a gyroscopic response to the aerodynamic forces acting on the projectile, which results in the projectile long axis aligning itself with the flight trajectory. The physics involved here is a combination of gyroscopic analysis and aerodynamic force analysis due to drag and (potentially) the Magnus effect. This is quite complicated and will not be discussed here. However, there is a lot of literature available online on gyroscope physics, as related to projectile spin and gyroscopic stability, if one wishes to study this topic further.