gyrocompass: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	gyroscopic compass

Photos

Diagram explaining how a gyrocompass works, showing a ship anchored on the equator with a gyroscope whose axis points east and west, and illustrating how Earth's rotation causes the gyroscope's axis to tilt over time, aligning it with true north and south. Includes labeled positions at hourly intervals and a compass rose for orientation.

gyrocompass operation

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Topics

gyromagnetic compass gyroscope compass magnetic compass solar compass

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Key People

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Elmer Ambrose Sperry

American inventor