Re: Gyroscope does work?

In message <qputc4-lp3.ln1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, jimp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes
G=EMC^2 Glazier <herbertglazier@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Sam A gyrocompass makes use of the gyro to indicate direction. The axis
of the gyro rotor is set in a north south direction,and the rotor is set
spinning. The gyro is connected to an indicator so that as the ship or
plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always
pointing north. The gyro is connected to a weight,and this weight acts
as a pendulum,so it the gyro begins to point away from north,the
pendulum tilts the axis of the rotor Precession then occurs to bring
them axis back to true north Sam I still have my compass given as a
present on my 8th birthday. I know my compass stuff Bert

Close but no cigar and you just flunked the oral portion of your
checkride.

Herb's inaccurately recapitulating a description of a gyro compass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrocompass

You're describing a heading indicator.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heading_indicator


You first turn on the gyrocompass and make sure it has fully spun
up before you set it.

.... and at this point the direction of its axis of rotation is random, not in general aligned N-S or anywhere else.

On an aircraft heading indicator, which is the real name,

Indeed. Not a gyrocompass at all.

there is
a little, fixed airplane on the front with a compass heading card
behind it.

As the aircaft turns, the heading card which is mechanically linked
to the actual gyro turns.

The current heading is always under the nose of the little airplane.

There is no pedulum mechanism and heading indicators always precess.

Even if the gyro were perfect, you would still get drift due to the
rotation of the Earth.

On extremely expensive heading indicators there is a flux gate
magnetic compass that corrects the heading indicator automattically.

The rule is to cross check the heading indicator every 15 minutes
against the magnetic compass and correct accordingly.

Absent radio navigation aids, there are only two ways to find
North; a magnetic compass or celestial navigation. No arangements
of gyros, pendulums, or anything else can find North from an
arbitrary position.

A true gyrocompass can, provided that the "arbitrary position" is (nearly) stationary on the earth's surface.

--
Richard Herring
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Gyroscope does work?
    ... of the gyro rotor is set in a north south direction,and the rotor is set ... plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always ... magnetic compass that corrects the heading indicator automattically. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Gyroscope does work?
    ... >> Sam A gyrocompass makes use of the gyro to indicate direction. ... >> plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always ... >> pendulum tilts the axis of the rotor Precession then occurs to bring ... >magnetic compass that corrects the heading indicator automattically. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Gyroscope does work?
    ... of the gyro rotor is set in a north south direction,and the rotor is set ... plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always ... magnetic compass that corrects the heading indicator automattically. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Gyroscope does work?
    ... of the gyro rotor is set in a north south direction,and the rotor is set ... plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Gyroscope does work?
    ... >>> Sam A gyrocompass makes use of the gyro to indicate direction. ... >>> of the gyro rotor is set in a north south direction,and the rotor is set ... >>> plane carrying the compass turns,the gyro keeps the indicator always ... >>> pendulum tilts the axis of the rotor Precession then occurs to bring ...
    (sci.physics)