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gyroscope
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gyroscope Illustration comparing a three-frame gyroscope on the left and a two-frame gyroscope on the right, each with a central spinning wheel mounted in gimbal rings on a stand to demonstrate rotational motion and stability. 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. Diagram of a ring laser gyroscope showing laser beams traveling in a triangular path between three mirrors, with a laser source and a readout sensor to detect interference patterns caused by the Sagnac effect. A diagram of a gyroscope with a spinning wheel mounted on an angled axis, showing labeled vectors for angular velocity, angular momentum, torque, force of gravity, and the precession direction. Three green axes indicate spatial orientation. Three-panel diagram illustrating gyroscopic precession: the top panel shows a spinning wheel supported at both ends of its axle, the middle panel shows one support removed, and the bottom panel shows the wheel tilting and precessing while spinning, supported at one end. Axes and rotational directions are labeled throughout. Figure 3: Rate gyroscopes (Left) Velocity gyro for measuring rate of turn;(right) velocity gyro for measuring rate of roll Figure 2: Apparent movement of the spin axis of a gyroscope
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gyroscope: References & Edit History

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Invalidated site: University of Toronto - Department of Physics - The Gyroscope. Oct 28, 2026
Add new Web site: IOPscience - Journal of Physics: Conference Series - The Statement of Design and Application Questions for the Gyroscope with a Gas-dynamic Suspension of Ball Rotor in the Navigation Support Drilling System (PDF). May 31, 2025
Add new Web site: Live Science - Accelerometer vs. Gyroscope: What's the Difference? Jan 08, 2025
Add new Web site: Nature - Microsystems and Nanoengineering - A novel progressive wave gyroscope based on acousto-optic effects. Sep 06, 2024
Add new Web site: University of Toronto - Department of Physics - The Gyroscope. Jun 01, 2024
Add new Web site: Lehman College - Three Dimensional Rotations and Gyroscopes. Apr 03, 2024
Add new Web site: Academia - Gyroscope Principles. Nov 01, 2023
Add new Web site: BCcampus Open Publishing - Precession of a Gyroscope. Sep 18, 2023
Add new Web site: OpenStax - University Physics Volume 1 - Precession of a Gyroscope. Apr 21, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Gyroscope measurements of the precession and nutation of Earth’s axis. Dec 19, 2022
Add new Web site: Physics LibreTexts - The Gyroscope. Oct 15, 2022
Add new Web site: Kenyon College - Department of Physics - Gyroscope. Feb 19, 2020
Add new Web site: Live Science - Accelerometer vs. Gyroscope: What's the Difference? May 07, 2019
Cross-references added. Oct 13, 2017
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - What is a Gyroscope Video for Kids. Mar 07, 2017
Add new Web site: Science Kids - What is a Gyroscope? Mar 07, 2017
Added diagram explaining the function of a gyroscope. Feb 01, 2012
Added diagram of a gyroscope. Jun 30, 2010
Added new Web site: Science Museum - Astonishing Science Spectacular Museum - Biography of Alan Turing. Dec 26, 2008
Added new Web site: h2g2 - Gyroscopes. Oct 20, 2008
Added new Web site: Buzzle.com - Diaphragm Function. Apr 18, 2008
Article revised. Feb 18, 2005
Article revised. May 31, 2002
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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