Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device designed to measure and determine orientation based on the force of Earth's gravity. It typically features a heavy, freely rotating disk aligned with a stable axis, allowing it to maintain absolute direction as it resists external disturbances due to the principle of conservation of angular momentum. The concept originated in the 18th century with the whirling speculum, developed by English scientist John Serson for navigational purposes. Subsequent advancements led to the naming of the device by French scientist Léon Foucault in 1852, deriving from Greek words meaning "revolution" and "to see."
Gyroscopes have evolved significantly over the years, transitioning from mechanical designs to modern implementations that include laser and fiber-optic technologies. They play critical roles in navigation for ships and aircraft, guidance systems for missiles and satellites, and stabilization for electronic devices like smartphones and tablets. The invention of electrical motors in the 20th century propelled gyroscopes into widespread use, including the development of automatic pilot systems for aircraft. Their applications continue to expand across various fields, showcasing their importance in both historical and contemporary technology.
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Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device that uses the force of Earth's gravity to measure and determine orientation. Mechanical gyroscopes use a relatively heavy disk that can freely rotate on a spinning axis attached to the center of a more stable wheel. As the axis is turned, the rotating disk on the inside remains stationary and is able to align itself with gravity to maintain absolute direction. This effect is based on a principle called the conservation of angular momentum, in which spinning objects exert a force on each other, keeping the spinning system constant unless an external force disrupts it. The first gyroscopes were developed to aid navigation on sailing vessels and used the same physics that work on a spinning top. Modern gyroscopes can also use lasers and fiber optics to orient themselves. Gyroscopes are used as navigational tools on ships and aircraft, as guidance systems for missiles and orbiting satellites, and even as stabilizing devices for computer touchscreens.
Overview
The earliest gyroscope was invented by English scientist John Serson in 1743. Serson noticed that a spinning top would remain level even if the surface it was on was tilted. He developed a device he called the whirling speculum, which consisted of a top with a mirrored, flat surface. When the top was spun, sailors could align an image of the sun on the mirror and determine the true horizon even if it was obscured by clouds or fog. Serson never had the chance to refine his invention as he died at sea in a 1744 shipwreck. Other scientists built on his work, however, and in 1852, French scientist Leon Foucault invented a device that used a high-speed spinning wheel mounted inside a supporting ring in an attempt to observe Earth's rotation. Foucault's device failed in its goal because the force caused by friction stopped the spinning after only a few minutes. He did, however, give the device the name gyroscope, after the Greek words gyros, meaning "revolution," and skopein, "to see."
By the early twentieth century, the invention of electrical motors allowed gyroscopes to overcome the constraints of friction. This led to the invention of the gyrocompass, a device that could orient itself to Earth's gravity, similar to how a conventional compass points to the magnetic north. The first navigational gyroscope was used to steer torpedoes, but gyroscopes soon became standard issue on ships and aircraft. In 1909, inventor Elmer Sperry created the first automatic pilot system for aircraft using a gyroscope. During World War II, pilots used the devices not just for geographical navigation but also to align gun sights with their targets.
After the war, technology improved to allow more complex gyroscopes to be used for a variety of purposes. They continued to be utilized for navigation and guidance, especially in weapons systems, space vehicles, and Earth-orbiting satellites. In the 1960s, scientists developed the optical gyroscope, which used laser beams shot through a ring of mirrors to determine direction. Later developments removed the mirrors and used a circle of fiber optics. Three-axis gyroscopes are used in mobile electronic devices such as cellphones and tablets to sense motion and enable touchscreens to work.
Bibliography
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