A
gyroscope consists of a
spinning mass, mounted so its axis
of
rotation can change. Examples include toys such as
spinning tops and powerballs. Gyroscopic effects are also key to
things like yo-yo's and frisbees. We are
not
regularly exposed to the gyroscopic effect and its
motion so gyroscopes can seem strange and weird. There are many myths
surrounding their motion such as they are anti-gravity devices, but if
we let go of a gyroscope whilst holding one it will of course obey the
laws of gravity and fall to the floor.
In 1974 Eric Laithwaite was invited to give a Royal Institution lecture. In this he performed a series of demonstrations involving gyroscopes. He claimed that the outcome of these demonstrations showed that Newton's laws of motion are restricted to motion in straight lines where there is no rate of change of acceleration, and that circular motion has some force all of its own.
Gyroscopic motion does however follow Newton's laws of motion this is shown through the repetition of Laithwaite's demonstrations and explanation of the subsequent motion using Newtonian Mechanics.
(On this website some formulas, diagrams and explanations taken from Cambridge Engineering 3C5 notes)
Acknowledgement: This page, and all those linked to it, were created by Emma Wilson in 2007 as part of her MEng Thesis at Cambridge University.
