Gyro Q & A

Science News, July 28, 2007 by Lee Hukill, Perry F. Crabill, Jr.

Doesn't "Spinning into Control" (SN: 05/19/07, p. 312) on flywheels leave out a significant aspect: the gyroscope effects of a rotating large mass? Wouldn't it be a benefit for moving installations (stabilization) and a problem for immobile installations?

LEE HUKILL, PALO ALTO. CALIF.

In the article, the flywheels depicted appear to have vertical axles. I presume that this prevents inertial forces from being a problem when a vehicle using one of these systems changes direction. It would seem that such forces could be a real problem for a vehicle with a flywheel installed horizontally when it attempted to turn.

PERRY F. CRABILL JR., WINCHESTER, VA.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Science Service, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

 

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