Gyroscopic Flywheel Demonstration

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the gyroscopic flywheel lifting demonstration.

Flywheel

A heavy rotating wheel (19 kg in the demo) that stores rotational kinetic energy and provides high angular momentum.

Torque

A twisting force that produces rotation; the flywheel’s weight applies a torque that leads to precession rather than falling.

Gyroscopic Precession

The tendency of a spinning object to turn its axis at right angles to an applied torque, causing the shaft to sweep out a circle.

Angular Momentum

The conserved quantity of rotational motion; large angular momentum of the spinning flywheel resists changes to its orientation.

Rotational Inertia (Moment of Inertia)

An object’s resistance to changes in rotational speed; increased by the flywheel’s mass distributed away from its axis.

RPM (Revolutions per Minute)

A measure of rotational speed; the flywheel is spun to several thousand RPM before the lifting attempts.

Shaft

The 1-meter-long rod attached to the flywheel, held at one end by the demonstrator.

Weightlessness Illusion

The sensation that the spinning flywheel feels much lighter, because gyroscopic precession keeps it from tipping downward.

Precessional Motion

The circular movement of the flywheel’s axis caused by gyroscopic precession when a torque is applied.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

Physical principle stating that angular momentum remains constant in the absence of external torque, explaining the gyroscope’s stability.

Scale Reading Experiment

Test in which the presenter stands on a scale while lifting the spinning flywheel to observe any change from the combined 91 kg weight.

Mechanical Engineering Shop

The University of Sydney facility that constructed the flywheel apparatus for the demonstration.

Apparatus

The complete experimental setup—flywheel, shaft, and supports—used to demonstrate gyroscopic effects.

Balance (Scale)

Device measuring weight; used to show the mass of the presenter (72 kg) plus the flywheel (19 kg).

Centripetal Force

Inward force required to maintain circular motion; provided by the demonstrator’s hand as the gyroscope precesses.