School of Physics Lecture Demonstration Manual

Mi-6 Mobile Gyroscope

Published: Thursday 09 March 2006 - Updated: Wednesday 18 April 2007

Aim

To demonstrate that a rotating axis will maintain direction, with three degrees of freedom.

Apparatus

Diagrams

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Mobile Gyroscope Diagram

Description

The bicycle wheel is spun up to speed by an electric motor. The wheel axis is positioned in a certain direction. The sytem is then free to be moved around. The wheel axle should still point in the same direction, no matter how the support of the gyroscope is positioned.

Safety notes

Electrical Safety

Maintenance

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