Item Description

A gyroscope is defined as a rigid rotating object, composed of an electrical motor rotor coupled to a horizontally supported shaft (torque arm) with a rotor disc. A second electric motor turns a turntable under the gyroscope, causing precession about a vertical axis. Precession describes a change in the direction of the axis of a rotating object, so in this case a change in the spin axis of the gyroscope is generated.

Gyroscopic action occurs whenever the axis of a rotating object (rotor disc) is made to change its direction. The angular momentum of the rotating object causes the axis of rotation to remain in the same direction as long as no external couple acts on the system. However, if a turning couple is applied to the axis, a torque reaction (or “gyroscopic couple”) is produced, which tends to turn the axis in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the applied couple acts. This torque reaction results from attempting to alter the direction of angular momentum of the rotating object.

The study of gyroscopic action is important in the field of vehicle engineering. The gyroscopic couple produced by rotating components can often lead to undesirable effects which affect the stability of vehicles.

Sci-tech Gyroscope Model MT 116 allows the demonstration of the gyroscopic effects and enables the relationship between the gyroscopic couple and the direction of rotation (or “precession”) of the gyroscope axis to be determined.

Sci-tech Gyroscope Model MT 116 allows the experimental demonstration of the different rotation modes of a gyroscope and the moments generated by the gyroscopic effect.

The rotor of the electric motor (rotating motor) shares a horizontally supported shaft (torque arm) with a rotor disc about its own axis. The rotor disc is mounted together with its motor as a yoke and forms the gyroscope. A second electrical motor (precession motor) turns a turntable under the gyroscope, causing precession about a vertical axis. The speed of both motors are electronically regulated and independently controlled. The rotational velocity of the rotating motor and the precession motor can be visualized in digital displays (in the electronic console).

The gyroscopic moment can be preselected by positioning a counterweight with retaining screws at different radii.

Additional weights can be attached to the end of the torque arm to balance the gyroscopic couple produced when the rotor disc is spinning and the gyroscope is being rotated (pre-cessed) about the vertical axis.

A transparent protective cover provides protection against rotating parts and enables different experiments to be observed. Opening this cover automatically stops the two electrical motors.