> Here is a simpler explanation:
>
> A spinning object develops "rigidity in space". If it were at rest all
> of its energy would by "potential". When it is spun, some of its energy
> is "kinetic".
> A spinning top has a separate momentum from the earth. An early proof
> that the earth turns was made by running a gyroscope for a day. Because
> of rigidity in space, the gyroscope appeared to turn once around. We
> know actually that it was the planet that turned and not the gyroscope.
> You could make a clock from one but at $30,000 I wouldn't recomend it.
> If you spun your launch vehicle at a high enough rpm, the energy
> required to lift it would be considerably reduced.
> (I'll bet that if you spun it hard enough it would it would just sit
> there while the planet raced away from it. Anybody here an expert on
> material science?)
Anybody can shed more light into the nature of gyros ? URL's, text
files, and specially equations are welcome !!!
( we never studied gyros in the university nor in school ! )
Also, a note that in airplanes gyros are used as compasses meaning that
using only motion one can know where north is, and from what Grant has said,
maybe someone can tie gyros with the aether !!!