gyroscopic
Spinning maintains orientation
Gyroscopic describes anything relating to or operating like a gyroscope—a spinning wheel or disc mounted to rotate freely and maintain its orientation regardless of how its frame moves.
Gyroscopic forces keep a spinning top upright and help stabilize bicycles in motion.
The term appears in navigation, aerospace, and physics: gyroscopic stabilization, gyroscopic precession, gyroscopic instruments.
Rapid rotation around axis
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- axisRotation reference line
- torqueRotational force measurement
rotor · inertia · centrifugal · revolve · pivot · whirl · swivel · tangential
Resistance to angular acceleration
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
- rigidityState of being unbending
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
Foucault pendulum · mechanics · kinetics · dynamics · force · vector · Newton · Euler
Device showing cardinal directions
- autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
- headingDirectional course traveled
- attitude indicatorInstrument showing aircraft orientation
- artificial horizonFlight orientation display
State of being constant
- equilibriumState of balance
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- platformRaised flat structure
- levelingMaking flat or equal
antivibration · self-righting · counterbalance · image stabilization · Segway · steadicam · pitch control
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
- precessionRotating axis gradually reorients
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- axisRotation reference line
torque · rotor · inertia · centrifugal · revolve · pivot · whirl · swivel · tangential · velocity
moment of inertia
Resistance to angular acceleration
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
- rigidityState of being unbending
resistance · Foucault pendulum · mechanics · kinetics · dynamics · force · vector · Newton · Euler · degrees of freedom
compass
Device showing cardinal directions
- autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
- headingDirectional course traveled
- attitude indicatorInstrument showing aircraft orientation
artificial horizon · INS · attitude control · missile guidance
steadiness
State of being constant
- equilibriumState of balance
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- platformRaised flat structure
leveling · antivibration · self-righting · counterbalance · image stabilization · Segway · steadicam · pitch control
gyroscopicunstable
Prone to sudden change
wobbly · unbalanced · oscillating · tippy · static
- gyroscopic stabilityBalance from angular momentum