Gyroscope Questions

A gyroscope is a device that has a spinning disc mounted on the base. This disc can move freely in more than one direction so that the orientation is maintained irrespective of the movement in the base.

Gyroscopic motion or gyroscopic force is an object’s tendency to maintain its orientation while rotating. Gyroscopes are used in many old and new inventions to stabilise, guide or measure rotational movement. A gyroscope consists of the spin axis, gimbal, rotor, and gyroscope frame. The rotor of the gyroscope has three degrees of rotational freedom. Gravity drives the working principle of a gyroscope; this can be explained by angular momentum, which is experienced by the torque on the disc that produces a gyroscopic precession on the spinning wheel. There are three main types of gyroscopes, and they are 1) Mechanical gyroscope, 2) Optical gyroscope, and 3) Gas-bearing gyroscope.

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Important Questions with Answers

1. Gyroscopes work on the principle of __________.

1. conservation of linear momentum.
2. conservation of angular momentum.
3. conservation of energy.
4. none of the above.

Answer – B. Conservation of angular momentum.

Explanation – Gyroscope works on the principle of gravity. As a result of the torque on a disc, angular momentum produces a gyroscopic precession in the spinning wheel, which is explained as the product of angular momentum.

2. What is torque? Is it a scalar or a vector quantity?

Torque is a vector quantity. An object’s torque is the amount of force it takes to rotate around an axis. A force accelerates an object in linear kinematics, but torque accelerates an object angularly.

3. What is an accelerometer?

An accelerometer is an instrument used to measure acceleration and detect vibrations. An accelerometer is also an electromechanical device that measures forces due to acceleration.

4. The signal-to-noise ratio of the gyroscope is lower.

1. True
2. False

Answer – B. False

Explanation – The signal-to-noise ratio of the gyroscope is higher.

5. The rotor of the gyroscope has _______ degrees of rotational freedom.

1. two
2. three
3. four
4. one

Answer – B. three

Explanation – During operation, the rotor is constrained to spin around an axis that is always perpendicular to the axis of the inner gimbal. Therefore, the rotor possesses three degrees of rotational freedom, and the gyroscope axis has two degrees of freedom.

6. What are gimbals?

A glimble is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis.

7. State and explain the types of a gyroscope.

There are three main types of a gyroscope, and they are,

1. Mechanical Gyroscopes

The mechanical gyroscope’s operating principle is based on the conservation of angular momentum. These gyroscopes are dependent on the ball bearing to spin, but they are replaced with modern forms of gyroscopes as they are noisier.

2. Optical Gyroscopes

These gyroscopes depend on a ball bearing or a rotating wheel, but they are not based on angular momentum conservation. Two optic fibre coils spun in opposite directions are used in these gyroscopes. Because there is no movement in optical gyroscopes, they are considered durable.

3. Gas-Bearing Gyroscopes

The friction between the moving parts in a gas-bearing gyroscope is reduced by suspending the rotor with the help of pressurised gas. Gas-bearing gyroscopes are quieter and more accurate than other types.

8. Give an application of the gyroscope.

Gyroscope is used in the compasses of boats, spacecraft, and aeroplanes. It is also used to stabilise large boats and satellites. Gyroscopes are also utilised in gyro theodolites to maintain the direction of tunnel mining. Smartphones use gyroscopes and accelerometers to provide excellent motion sensing.

9. The gyroscope is used to measure all types of rotation but fails in identifying movement.

1. True
2. False

Answer – a. True

Explanation – The gyroscope is used to measure all types of rotation, and the accelerometer is used for measuring linear movement.

10. What is the conservation of angular momentum?

The conservation of angular momentum refers to the tendency of a system to preserve its rotational momentum in the absence of external torque.

Practice Questions

1. What is gyroscopic torque?
2. What is the degree of freedom?
3. What is the expression for a gyroscopic couple?
4. What does the gyroscope measure?
5. What are the properties of gyroscopes?

To learn more about Gyroscopic Effects, watch the video below.

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