gyroscopic

Everyday

1. To do with a gyroscope, a spinning wheel or disc that keeps steady and resists being tipped over. tree →
2. Behaving like a gyroscope: steady because it spins. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on forces, gyroscopic effects help explain why a spinning top stays up, why a moving bicycle is easier to balance, and how spinning helps a frisbee fly straight. Phones, drones and planes use gyroscopic sensors to know which way they are tilted. Phrases: gyroscopic effect, gyroscopic stability, gyroscopic sensor.

Examples

• A spinning top stays upright because of the gyroscopic effect. tree →
• My phone has a gyroscopic sensor that knows when I turn it. tree →
• The drone uses gyroscopic sensors to stay level. tree →
• Spinning wheels give a bike some gyroscopic stability. tree →
• A frisbee flies straighter because of its gyroscopic spin. tree →
• Satellites use gyroscopic wheels to point the right way. tree →

Note

Pronounced jy-ruh-SKOP-ik (soft g, like «giant»). From «gyroscope» (gyro = circle, turning). A common myth says bikes stay up only because of gyroscopic effects; in fact steering and the shape of the bike matter even more.