Lab Manual

To Demonstrate the working principle of Gyroscope

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to understand the working principle of gyroscope and learn
the basic mechanics behind its designing.
Apparatus:
Gyroscope Working Model
Theory:
A gyroscope is defined as a rigid rotating object, symmetric about one axis. More recently, very
carefully engineered gyroscopes were used for navigation because the axis of spin points in a nearly fixed
direction when external torques are small. This makes the gyroscope a good replacement for a magnetic
compass, particularly in regions where magnetic compasses are unreliable. In fact, gyroscopes act like a
device appears to act like intelligence, if we try to move some of its part it seems like not even to resist
motion but to evade it. The Fig. 1.1 shows the laboratory gyroscope.

Inner Gimbal

(a) (b)
Figure 1.1. A laboratory Gyroscope
The fig 1.1 (b) shows the basic schematic of the gyroscope in which heavy rotor is attached to the shaft by
a bearing this shaft is indicated by a spin axis. The rotor is free to move around the shaft, the shaft is further
attached to the inner gimbal of the gyroscope by another set bearings. The inner gimbal is free to rotate
around an axis which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor. The inner gimbal is further pivoted
on outer gimbal so that outer gimbal rotates around the axis perpendicular to rotor. The vertical gimbal
turns about vertical axis through the frame perpendicular to the plane of the rotor. The rotor schematic is
shown in fig 1.2.
 Figure 1.2. Axis view of Gyroscope

Rotor rotates about Y-axis or together with the inner gimbal, about the X-axis or with the both gimbal about
the Z-axis. In fact, the rotor has three kind of rotation simultaneously, the spinning about Y-axis, rotation
about Z-axis and precision about X-axis. So, it will be convenient to design the rotor axis or Y-axis as the
spinning axis.
If Z-axis kept in vertical position, the gyroscope moves anywhere about the table without altering the axis
of spin. This is the because of the conservation of law of conversation of momentum. If the axis of spin is
to change its direction the moment of momentum vector must also change its direction, but this required
external torque. While the rotor is still spinning, by lifting the inner gimbal out of the bearing and move it
about, it can be translated anywhere but we meet with definite resistance when we attempt to rotate it about
the axis of spin.
When the pressure is applied to the inner to make it turnabout X-axis, not only the resistance is faced by
the pressure, but the outer gimbal slowly begins to rotate about vertical Z-axis and it continues to rotate
until the pressure is released. The pressure constitutes the torque on inner gimbal with the parallel and
opposite force of couple coming from the pivots in gimbal. To study this effect carefully we might cause
the rotor to move in positive direction i.e. the angular velocity pointing in positive Y-direction. If we apply
a positive torque to the inner gimbal i.e. torque vector pointing in positive X-axis, the rotation of outer
gimbal in the negative Z-axis direction. The negative spin velocity or torque cause the gimbal to rotate in
positive Z direction. The rotation of spin axis about an axis perpendicular to that applied torque is called
precession and the application of a torque to the spin rotor cause it to precess. In this process Z-axis is called
axis of precession.
When the torque is applied to outer gimbal to rotate about Z-axis, in doing such attempt meets with
resistance and cause inner gimbal with spin axis to rotate. When the spin axis is in vertical position, the
gyroscope is in stable equilibrium and the outer gimbal can then be turned quite freely. The moment of
momentum is changing its direction because of an application of external torque.

Gyroscope Mechanics:

(a) (b)
Figure 1.3. Rotation of rotor
In fig 1.3 (a) Suppose a rotor is spinning about its spin axis with an angular velocity ω s, while at the same
time spin axis precess with an angular velocity ωp. Let the moment of inertia of the rotor about spin axis be
Is and designate I as the moment of inertia about X and about Z, since they are equal. Because the axis of
rotor are principle axes of inertia, the component of the moment-of-momentum vector along the spin axis
is Hs=ISωS and along the precession axes is Hp=Ipωp. After the small period of time ∆t the spin axis has
rotated through the angle ∆θ to a new position indicated by Y` as shown in fig 1.3 (b). The component of
moment of momentum along the spin axis is always changing its direction during recession. Any vector,
such as Hs rotating with constant angular velocity ωp has a rate of change
Ĥ=ωpHs (1)
Since the rate of change of momentum is equal to the external torque applied acting upon system, as shown
T=Ĥ=ω×(ISωS) (2)
The direction of the torque required to maintain the precession as shown in fig.1.3 (a). Fig 1.3 (b) shows
that the direction of the applied torque must continue to change in order to maintain precession. It also
shows that torque does not vary the precessional component of the moment of momentum. It does show
that the change in the moment of momentum is in the same direction as the applied torque. The fig 1.3.
applies only to the maintenance of an existing motion and not to the beginning and ending of the precession.
It might be noted though not demonstrated here, that the beginning or ending of precession is accompanied
by vibration, which usually are damped out quite rapidly by friction.