Question |
| Asked by: |
Sally Sue |
| Subject: |
Can a gyroscope be used to measure weight? |
| Question: |
Can a gyroscope be used to measure weight? If so, how is it done? |
| Date: |
31 October 2003
|
| report abuse
|
|
Answers (Ordered by Date)
|
| Answer: |
webmaster@gyroscopes.org - 31/10/2003 20:56:58
|
| | I haven’t heard anyone ask that question before and I guess in a sense you have surprised me. I’ve never seen a gyroscope solely used for that purpose but yes it can. A gyroscope reacts to a change in direction, more precisely it reacts to a force place on one of it’s axis. Take a standard gimballed gyroscope http://www.gyroscopes.org/gallery/26.jpg a weight in this case is place on the inner ring. When this happens the weight and gyroscope will rotate round the base. The bigger the weight the quicker it goes. Quite a complex set of weighing scales I guess!
|
| Report Abuse |
| Answer: |
James Bean - 01/12/2003 23:52:32
|
| | Another, possibly more practical method than measuring the spinning velocity...
A spinning gyro, where a weight (downward force is applied to an axis) would attempt to precess. A pickup measuring the force of precession could be attached that would give the weight. The heavier the object the more the force of precession. Note that the force of prescession could be measured at say 45 degrees to the horizontal which should mean that the mean force of precession is about 73% (I think). That would allow you to measure heavier objects than the pickup could normally handle. The force of precession should be a sine wave at the radial edge of the gyro, starting at zero where the vector of the weight crosses the radial edge and proceeding to a maximum at 90 degrees to the vector etc. A curious application, but certainly viable. No springs.
|
| Report Abuse |
| Add an Answer >> |
