Navigation and Seamanship

2.1.2.2. Gyroscopic intertia

A freely spinning gyroscope will maintain its axis spin in the same direction in space regardless of how its supporting base is turned. It resists any force attempting to turn its axis of spin in a new direction. This property is termed as “the rigidity in space”. According to Newton’s first law of motion “A body in motion will continue to move at constant speed in the same direction unless it is acted upon by an outside force.

If gyroscope could be constructed entirely free of mechanical error, with rotating wheel and operated in a vacuum with no air friction on the rotating wheel the result would be a perpetual. The direction of the spin axis would be fixed in inner space parallel to its original position when placed in motion and the gyroscope would rotate forever. Rigidity is the property of the gyro by which it tends to hold its direction of the plane of rotation in space.