can you explain how a gyroscope works?

Question

can i have some input and not just copied and pasted information from the internet? that would be very helpful! i need this by tuesday night! thanks

Answer 1

Objects moving in a straight line want to continue moving in a straight line ... linear momentum is conserved unless a force acts on the object.

In the same way, a spinning object wants to keep spinning about the same axis (pointed in the same direction) and it will do so unless a torque acts on the spinning object. (angular momentum is conserved).

If you want to know which way is up, start something spinning with its axis pointed up. It will keep pointing in the same direction provided you have a gymbal system that prevents torques from acting on the object.

Answer 2

To continue the previous answer:

Good answer with the rotational axis bit. However, if you have a rotating mass and look at the path of one particle of the mass, you find that if a torque IS applied to the gyroscope, the path of the "particle" of mass in influenced in such a way that a reaction torque is generated normal to the axis of the applied torque. This is what causes a gyroscope to seemingly "defy" gravity; what is "defying" gravity is the counter force developed by the reaction to the pull of gravity acting at a distance from a rotational axis.

The math on this is - uhhh - tricky. That's why your "cut and paste" scavenger hunt may not lead to much success.