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Gyroscope Navigation and Properties

This document discusses gyroscopes and their properties. It explains that a gyroscope consists of a spinning mass or wheel that is free to rotate about its spin axis. It also describes gyroscopic inertia, in which the spin axis maintains a fixed direction in space. The document outlines how gyroscopic precession occurs when an external torque is applied, causing the spin axis to move at a right angle to the applied force. It then discusses how gyroscopes can be made north-seeking by using arrangements like a top-heavy or bottom-heavy gyro with mercury pots to dampen tilt and drift and allow the gyro to indicate direction.

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Satya Prakash Bhardwaj
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628 views6 pages

Gyroscope Navigation and Properties

This document discusses gyroscopes and their properties. It explains that a gyroscope consists of a spinning mass or wheel that is free to rotate about its spin axis. It also describes gyroscopic inertia, in which the spin axis maintains a fixed direction in space. The document outlines how gyroscopic precession occurs when an external torque is applied, causing the spin axis to move at a right angle to the applied force. It then discusses how gyroscopes can be made north-seeking by using arrangements like a top-heavy or bottom-heavy gyro with mercury pots to dampen tilt and drift and allow the gyro to indicate direction.

Uploaded by

Satya Prakash Bhardwaj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Phase II

Scope from MMD Exam Perspective


Understanding Free Gyroscope and its properties
Gyroscopic inertia

Gyroscopic Precession
Making Gyro North Seeking
Un-damped Gyro ; Top Heavy & Bottom HeavyArrangement
Damping of Gyro ; Damped in Tilt & Damped in Azimuth

Errors associated with Gyro


Settling error

Steaming error

Care and maintenance of Gyro


Transmission of signal from Master Gyro to repeaters
Gyro Notes_Capt. Vijay Kumar
Understanding Free Gyroscope and its properties
A gyroscope consists of a mass in form of a rotor or
wheel, which is suspended in such a way that it is free to
spin about its axis(called spin axis) passing through its
centre of mass and perpendicular to the plane of rotor.
The arrangement is such that it has following 3 degrees
of freedom . Freedom

1. to spin about the spin axis - X


2. to tilt about the horizontal axis - Y
3. to turn about the vertical axis - Z
Once the rotor has been imparted angular momentum,
its spin axis continue to point in a fixed direction towards
an imaginary star, namely Gyro Star

Gyro Notes_Capt. Vijay Kumar


Understanding Free Gyroscope and its properties
This property of Gyro is termed as Rigidity in Space or Gyroscopic Inertia.
Thus anywhere on the earth, as the axis are pointingtowards this
star, the axis will exhibit tilt (corresponding to the altitude of the
star) and drift (corresponding to azimuth of the star). The tilt and
drift of the axis is represented by
The angle of elevation or depression of Spin Axis, above
or below the horizon; corresponding to the altitude of the gyro star

- The eastward or westward movement of the Spin Axis


is called drift; corresponding to the azimuth of gyro star

Rate of Change of tilt of the Spin Axis; it is expressed as

Path traced by the North end of spin axis in North


Rate of Change of azimuth of the Spin Axis; it is expressed as
Latitude, initially set pointing in eastward direction

Gyro Notes_Capt. Vijay Kumar


Gyroscopic Precession
When an external force (torque is applied) to the spin axis of
the gyroscope, the resulting motion of the spin axis is
termed as gyroscopic precession.
In case of spinning bodies (bodies with angular momentum),
the plane in which the torque is applied, the resulting
motion of the spin axis is in 900 to that plane in the
direction of motion; thus if a torque is applied in vertical
plane the spin axis will PRECESS in horizontal plane and
vice versa
The direction in which the spin axis will PRECESS dependson
the following factors:

The direction of the spin of the wheel


The point at which the force is applied to the spin axis &

The direction in which the force is applied Gyro Notes_Capt. Vijay Kumar
Making A North Seeking Gyro
As explained the free gyro at any point on the earth has tilt and drift corresponding to the altitude &
azimuth of the Gyro star and the same can be calculated.
Also taking into account the properties exhibited by the Gyro of rigidity in space and precession, a free
gyroscope is hardly of any use in finding direction

The desired proposition is to have an arrangement so that the tilt and drift of a free gyro can be
compensated by applying equal and opposite force
The same is achieved by making either a Top Heavy or Bottom heavy gyro, using an assembly of mercury
pots, whereby the movement of liquid will make the axis precess in equal and opposite direction of tilt and
drift.
In fact drift is more important to be controlled rather than tilt so that it can be used for finding direction
finding

The free gyroscope is thus converted to a Gravity Controlled Gyro through above arrangements. The gyro
with above such arrangements is known as an
Gyro Notes_Capt. Vijay Kumar

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