Description
Jean Bernard Léon Foucault (famous for inventing ‘Foucault’s pendulum’ to demonstrate the rotation of the earth) invented the gyroscope in 1852. The name gyroscope literally means “to view the turning”, and exploits the physical principle that a spinning mass maintains a constant direction. The device typically consists of a disk (rotor) with an axle through the centre, mounted in a gimballed frame to allow movement in all directions. It can be used to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation or for measuring and maintaining orientation. The Americans and the Soviets used it in this way at the height of the Cold War, for the guidance systems in their submarines, missiles and aircraft.

Some believe that Foucault took the inspiration for the gyroscope from Captain John Serson’s ‘whirling speculum’ invention, which was created in the early 1740s. This device is thought to be the first that used the principle that a spinning mass maintains a constant direction.

21/05/2009
Created by: Nathalie Botcherby, edited by Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 21/05/2009