A gyroscope in operation with freedom in all three axes. The rotor will maintain its spin axis direction regardless of the orientation of the outer frame.
gy•ro•scope |ˈjīrəˌskōp|noun | a device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so that it can spin rapidly about an axis that is itself free to alter in direction. The orientation of the axis is not affected by tilting of the mounting; so gyroscopes can be used to provide stability or maintain a reference direction in navigation systems, automatic pilots, and stabilizers.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French, from Greek guros ‘a ring’ + modern Latin scopium (see -scope ).
DERIVATIVES gy•ro•scop•ic |ˌjīrəˈskäpik| adjective »« gy•ro•scop•i•cal•ly |ˌjīrəˈskäpik(ə)lē| adverb
[New Oxford American Dictionary]
100 Words: Gyroscope
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