Misconceptions about gyroscopic stabilization

Müller P, Sack A, Pöschel T (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

American Journal of Physics American Association of Physics Teachers

Book Volume: 88

Pages Range: 175-181

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1119/10.0000517

Abstract

A spinning gyroscope resists small torques in directions perpendicular to its axis, that is, the angular orientation of a body rigidly attached to a gyroscope is stable against rotation around certain axes. Since the angular orientation of a body is described by three angles (e.g., Euler angles), one might conclude that it is possible to stabilize the orientation of an object against rotation using a combination of three gyroscopes spinning around non-collinear axes. We perform experiments under conditions of weightlessness to demonstrate that systems of coupled gyroscopes cannot arrest the angular orientation of free-floating objects, in contradiction to a widespread myth about gyroscopic stabilization, based on the above arguments. (C) 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.

Authors with CRIS profile

Patric Müller Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS) Achim Sack Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS) Thorsten Pöschel Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS)

How to cite

APA:

Müller, P., Sack, A., & Pöschel, T. (2020). Misconceptions about gyroscopic stabilization. American Journal of Physics, 88(3), 175-181. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0000517

MLA:

Müller, Patric, Achim Sack, and Thorsten Pöschel. "Misconceptions about gyroscopic stabilization." American Journal of Physics 88.3 (2020): 175-181.

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