Question

A thin wheel can stay upright on its rim for a considerable length when rolled with a considerable velocity, while it falls from its upright position at the slightest disturbance when stationary. Give reason.

Answer 1

When the wheel is rolling upright, it has angular momentum in the horizontal direction i.e., along the axis of the wheel. Because the angular momentum is to remain conserved, the wheel does not fall from its upright position because that would change the direction of angular momentum. The wheel falls only when it loses its angular velocity due to friction.