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A gyroscope is a device consisting of a massive wheel, disc, or circulating laser beam so that it can spin rapidly about an axis.
- This axis of rotation is free to move in any direction.
- When an external torque or force is applied to a gyroscope that is not parallel to its axis of rotation, precession occurs.
- A gyroscope is designed to measure or maintain orientation and angular velocity.
- It is based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum.
- Gyroscopes are used in the compasses of boats, spaceships, and airplanes.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Gyroscope, Conservation of angular momentum, Torque, Force, Gravity, Laser beam, Angular velocity, Rotational motion
What is a Gyroscope?
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A gyroscope is a device consisting of a spinning disc or wheel mechanism used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity.
- It is based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum.
- The spinning disc of the gyroscope is installed on the base.
- It can move freely in more than one direction, allowing the orientation to be maintained regardless of base movement.
- The first gyroscope was invented in 1852 by the French physicist Jean-Bernard-Leon Foucault.
Gyroscope
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| Linear Momentum | Angular Displacement | Rigid Bodies |
| What is an Accelerometer | Torque and Couple | Radius of Gyration |
Gyroscope Diagram
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Gyroscope diagram
Parts of the Gyroscope
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The following are the different parts of a Gyroscope
- Spin axis: The spin axis refers to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The axle of the rotating wheel, known as the rotor, determines the spin axis.
- Gimbal: A gimbal is a pivoted support that allows an object to be rotated about an axis. A gyroscope has a set of three gimbals, each one positioned on top of the other and having orthogonal pivot axes.
- Rotor: The rotor is a massive part present in the center of the gyroscope. The rotor is forced to spin about an axis that is always perpendicular to the axis of the inner gimbal.
- Gyroscope Frame: In the case of a gyroscope with two gimbals, the outermost gimbal, known as the gyroscope frame, is positioned so that it may pivot around an axis in its plane specified by the support.
Design of Gyroscope
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A gyroscope consists of a massive rotor that is attached to the supporting rings known as gimbals.
- The rotor present in the center is protected from external torques by frictionless bearings contained within the gimbals.
- The axle of the spinning wheel determines the spin axis.
- The rotor has excellent high-speed stability because it keeps the high-speed rotation axis at the center of the rotor.
- The rotor has three degrees of freedom in rotation.
Working Principle of Gyroscope
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The working of a gyroscope is based on gravity.
- It can be described as the product of angular momentum, which can be felt by the torque on a disc and causes gyroscopic precession in the spinning wheel.
- This is known as gyroscopic motion or gyroscopic force, and it is described as the tendency of a spinning object to retain its orientation.
- The angular momentum of any rotating object is conserved.
- Any change in the axis of rotation of the rotating object causes a change in orientation.
- Further, it affects the angular momentum.
- Therefore the working principle of a gyroscope is based on the conservation of angular momentum.
Types of Gyroscopes
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There are three types of gyroscopes
- Mechanical gyroscope
- Optical gyroscope
- Gas-bearing gyroscope
Mechanical gyroscope
Mechanical gyroscopes are based on a concept developed in the 19th century by Jean-Bernard-Leon Foucault, a French scientist.
- He named a wheel, or rotor, attached to gimbal rings as a gyroscope.
- The angular momentum of the spinning rotor helps to maintain its original orientation even when the gimbal assembly is tilted.
- This ability of the mechanical gyroscopes was used as a direction indicator.
- H. Anschutz-Kaempfe, a German inventor, created the first functional gyrocompass for use in a submersible in 1908.
Optical gyroscope
This type of gyroscope does not contain any moving parts such as a ball bearing or the rotating wheel.
- Optical gyroscopes are based on the Sagnac effect.
- It consists of an optical fiber in which two laser beams are injected in opposite directions.
- The beam moving against the rotation has a shorter path delay than the other beam due to the Sagnac effect.
- The difference in the phase shift is measured using interferometry.
- Since there are no moving parts involved in the optical gyroscope, it is considered to be durable.
- It has many applications including modern aircraft and rockets.
Gas-bearing gyroscope
A gas-bearing gyroscope is used to measure the rotation and position information.
- It used the concepts of angular momentum, buoyancy, and gas dynamics.
- Although it is similar to other types of gyroscopes, it has some unique properties that make it different from others.
- In a classical gyroscope, mechanical bearings are used to maintain the equilibrium position of the rotor.
- In gas-bearing gyroscopes, gas bearings are used to maintain a non-contact equilibrium of the rotor.
- This technology reduces mechanical friction, which increases its life span and reliability.
- In the development of the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA used a gas-bearing gyroscope.
Applications of Gyroscope
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The applications of Gyroscope are
- The targeted location is navigated in spacecraft using a gyroscope. The spinning center of a gyroscope acts as the orientation point.
- Gyroscopes are used in the compasses of boats, spaceships, and airplanes. The continuous spin of the gyroscope helps to find the direction and pitch.
- Gyroscopes are used in gyrotheodolite to maintain tunnel mining orientation.
- Large boats and spacecraft are stabilized with the help of massive gyroscopes.
- Smartphones consist of gyroscopes and accelerometers to provide better motion sensing.
Accelerometer and Gyroscope Difference
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An accelerometer is a type of electrical sensor that monitors the acceleration forces acting on an object to determine its position in space and track its movement.
The following are the differences between an accelerometer and a gyroscope
| Accelerometer | Gyroscope |
|---|---|
| The accelerometer detects linear movement but not rotations. It is useful for tilt detection. | The measurement of all types of rotation can be done by a gyroscope but fails to detect movement. |
| It cannot be used to measure angular velocity. | A gyroscope can be used to measure angular velocity. |
| The signal-to-noise ratio of an accelerometer is low. | The signal-to-noise ratio of a gyroscope is high. |
| It can be used to detect axis orientation. | It can be used to sense angular orientation |
Things to Remember
- A gyroscope is an instrument for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity.
- It consists of a massive spinning disc installed on the base.
- The working of a gyroscope is based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum.
- The different parts of a gyroscope are the spine axle, rotor, gimbal, gyroscope frame, and base.
- Gyroscopes are classified into three categories: Mechanical, Optical, and Gas-bearing gyroscopes.
- An accelerometer is a type of electrical sensor that detects acceleration forces acting on an object.
Also Read:
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| Moment of Inertia | Relation between moment of Inertia and Torque | Linear Momentum Formula |
| Types of lever | Rolling Motion | Law of Inertia |
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Sample Questions
Ques. What is a Gyroscope? (2 Marks)
Ans. A gyroscope is a wheel or disc attached to a gimbal that can rotate rapidly around an axis and change direction. Therefore, even if the structure on which the gyroscope is mounted is tilted, the spinning rotor maintains its orientation due to its angular momentum.
Ques. The axis of precession is ____________ to the plane in which the axis of spin is going to rotate. (2 Marks)
a) Perpendicular
b) Parallel
c) Spiral
d) None of the above
Ans. The correct answer is a. Perpendicular
Explanation: The precession axis is perpendicular to the plane in which the spin axis will rotate. The gyroscopic principle is applied in the gyroscope, an instrument or toy.
Ques. What is meant by a gyroscopic couple? (2 Marks)
Ans. A gyroscopic couple is a turning moment in which the axis of rotation of the gyroscope is inclined so that the changes are opposing.
Ques. What is gyroscopic torque? (2 Marks)
Ans. The gyroscopic torque is the torque provided to a rotating body that causes the change in the axis of rotation of the rotating body.
Ques. The axis of rotation of the wheel in a gyroscope is called (2 Marks)
a) Vertical axis
b) Angular axis
c) Spin axis
d) Horizontal axis
Ans. The correct answer is c. Spin axis
Explanation: In a gyroscope, the spin axis is the axis of rotation of the wheel.
Ques. What is the expression for the gyroscopic couple? (2 Marks)
Ans. The expression for the gyroscopic couple is given by
C = IωωP
Where
- C is the gyroscopic couple
- ω is the angular velocity
- ωP is the angular velocity of precession
Ques. Turning the rotor about a third axis when a torque transverse to the spin axis is known as (2 Marks)
a) Face shear
b) Transverse stress
c) Transverse shear
d) Precession
Ans. The correct answer is d. Precession
Explanation: When a torque is applied at an axis that is transverse to the spin axis, the rotor rotates about a third axis that is in quadrature to both. This tilting motion is known as precession.
Ques. What are the applications of gyroscopes? (3 Marks)
Ans. The following are the applications of a gyroscope
- It is utilized in the Hubble Space Telescope and submerged submarines as an inertial navigation system.
- Gyroscopes are used in gyro theodolites to maintain orientation in underground mining due to their precision.
- Gyrocompasses can be constructed using gyroscopes.
Ques. What is an accelerometer? (2 Marks)
Ans. An accelerometer is a device that detects and measures acceleration. It is a type of electromechanical device that senses acceleration forces.
Ques. What are the different types of gyroscopes? (2 Marks)
Ans. There are three types of gyroscopes
- Mechanical gyroscope
- Optical gyroscope
- Gas-bearing gyroscope
Ques. What is the use of a gyroscope in navigation? (2 Marks)
Ans. The gyroscope used in the gyro navigation system is a device that determines orientation by using the gravity of the earth. It consists of a freely spinning disc positioned in the center of a larger and more stable wheel on a spinning axis.
Ques. Where are fiber optic gyros used? (2 Marks)
Ans. Fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs) are rotation sensors that are extremely precise and accurate. They are used in airplanes, spacecraft, ships, and other vehicles' navigation and guiding systems. They detect rotation by detecting the interference of laser light traveling through an optical fiber coil.
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