What is it?
Any spinning mass could be called a gyroscope. When a mass is moving, it contains kinetic energy and it tends to
continue moving due to its momentum. The same is true of a spinning mass. It tends to continue (unless slowed by friction, etc.) and has angular momentum. Spinning masses tend to retain a stable
position as any shift in its axis of spin would disturb its angular momentum energy.
The gyroscope is the principle that is exploited in inertial navigation systems used in aircraft. The direction in space (or
vector) can be determined relative to the starting vector. A gyroscope is held within gimbals that allow movement in any direction. The outer casing of the gyroscope moves, but the gyroscope itself
retains its orientation. Movements in each of the 3 spatial directions are measured relative to the spinning gyroscope.
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