012-05327B 4/94 Instruction Manual and Experiment Guide for the PASCO scientific Model ME-8960 DEMONSTRATION GYROSCOPE DE ME MO -896 GY NST 0 RO RA SC TIO OP N E © 1994 PASCO scientific $10.00 better 10101 Foothills Blvd. • P.O.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Table of Contents Section Page Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return .................................................. ii Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Equipment ........................................................................................................ 2 Assembly ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope .........................................................
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Copyright, Warranty and Equipment Return Please—Feel free to duplicate this manual subject to the copyright restrictions below. Copyright Notice Equipment Return The PASCO scientific Model ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope manual is copyrighted and all rights reserved.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Introduction The PASCO ME-8960 Gyroscope has an open design that makes all the parts easily accessible to the student. The gyroscope consists of a disk that can be rotated by hand or by pulling a string that is wrapped around the pulley. A movable counterweight balances the disk. The small counterweight is used to make fine adjustments to the balance. An add-on mass can be easily placed on the end of the shaft to cause a torque and precession.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Equipment 45 cm support rod “E” rings (3, one extra for rotating disk) right angle rod clamp rotating disk 900g counterweight cast iron “A” base gyroscope axle DE ME MO -89 GY NST 60 RO RA SC TIO OP N E “E” rings (2, one extra for rotating axle) 30g counterweight 150g addon mass rotating axle thumbscrews (2) ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope Equipment The ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope includes the following: – PASCO cast iron “A” base with rotating shaft – 25c
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Assembly 900g counterweight thumbscrew rotating disk thumbscrew 30g counterweight flat of rotating axle DE ME MO -89 GY NST 60 RO RA SC TIO OP N E add-on mass gyroscope axle rotating axle “E” rings (2) for rotating disk thumbscrew cast iron “A” base “E” ring for rotating axle Figure 1: Demonstration Gyroscope Assembly ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope Assembling the Demonstration Gyroscope ➀ Insert the cylindrical end of the vertical shaft into the thumbscrew.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B gyroscope axle (rotated 90˚) gyroscope axle “A” base rotating disk 900g counterweight then adjust this foot adjust this foot first rotating disk leveling feet Figure 2: Leveling the Base Leveling the Base ➀ Purposely make the apparatus unbalanced by mov- ➂ Rotate the gyroscope 90 degrees so the gyroscope ing the 900g counterweight towards the center.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope included 900g counterweight additional gyroscope disk gyroscope axle (part of ME-8960) add-on mass (part of ME-8960) DE ME MO -89 GY NST 60 RO RA SC TIO OP N E ME-8960 Demonstration Gyroscope thumbscrew (part of ME-8960) Figure 4: Using the Additional Gyroscope Disk ME-8961 Additional Gyroscope Disk Using the Additional Gyroscope Disk ➀ Slide the included 900g counterweight onto the ➁ Put the Additional Gyroscope Disk on the other end long side of the gyroscop
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Notes: 6
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Experiment 1: Precession EQUIPMENT NEEDED – Gyroscope (ME-8960) – stopwatch (SE-8702) – Super Pulley (ME-9450) – Pulley Mounting Rod (SA-9242) – Mass and Hanger Set (ME-9348) – balance – meter stick – table clamp for pulley – thread (1.5 meters) – computer (optional) – Smart Pulley (optional) – Smart Pulley software (optional) Purpose The purpose of this experiment is to measure the precession rate of a gyroscope and compare it to the theoretical value.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Since dφ/dt = Ω, the precession speed, mgd = LΩ and the precession rate is given by Ω= mgd Iω where I is the rotational inertia of the disk and ω is the angular speed of the disk. To find the rotational inertia of the disk experimentally, a known torque is applied to the disk and the resulting angular acceleration is measured.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope So, once the linear acceleration of the mass (m) is determined, the torque and the angular acceleration can be obtained for the calculation of the rotational inertia. The acceleration is obtained by timing the fall of the hanging mass as it falls from rest a certain distance (y). Then the acceleration is given by a= 2y t2 Part I: Measuring the Precession Rate Setup ➀ Level the gyroscope base as described on page 4 in the Assembly section of this manual.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Part II: Measuring Quantities For the Theoretical Value Setup ➀ Clamp the gyroscope shaft in the horizontal position. See Figure 1.3. ➁ Attach a Super Pulley with rod to the table using a table clamp. ➂ Wind a thread around the pulley on the center shaft and pass the thread over the Super Pulley. right angle rod clamp 140 130 120 110 100 CAUTION MAGNET 90 80 70 60 ME-8960 50 DEMONSTRATION 40 GYROSCOPE 30 rotating disk support rod Figure 1.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Alternate Computer Method: If a computer and Smart Pulley are used, the acceleration of the disk can be obtained by finding the slope of the velocity vs. time graph. Measure the Radius ➀ Using calipers, measure the diameter of the pulley about which the thread is wrapped and calculate the radius. Record the radius in Table 1.2. Table 1.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Table 1.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Experiment 2: Counter-rotating Disks - Demonstration EQUIPMENT NEEDED – Gyroscope (ME-8960) – Accessory Disk and Extra Counterweight (ME-8961) – Physics String (SE-8050) Purpose It is shown that two disks spinning in opposite directions at the same angular speed will not precess when a torque is applied. Setup ➀ Remove the screw in the end of the shaft and slide the second disk onto the shaft with the pulley side facing away from the first disk.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Procedure ➀ Use your hand to spin both disks in the same direction. Show that the gyroscope does not precess. ➁ Put the add-on mass on the end of the shaft and secure with a screw. Spin both disks in the same direction and show that the gyroscope now precesses. ➂ Stop the disks and reverse the spin of both disks to show that the gyroscope now precesses in the opposite direction. ➃ Now counter-rotate the disks.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Experiment 3: Precession - Demonstration EQUIPMENT NEEDED – Gyroscope (ME-8960) Purpose It is shown that if a precessing gyroscope is restricted from precessing, the disk will fall. See Figure 3.1.
Demonstration Gyroscope 012-05327B Notes: 16
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Experiment 4: Nutations - Demonstration EQUIPMENT NEEDED – Gyroscope (ME-8960) Purpose Three different types of nutation are shown. Procedure ➀ Adjust the counterweights until the gyroscope is balanced. ➁ Put the add-on mass on the end of the shaft. ➂ Spin the disk and release the gyroscope from rest at an angle of about 30˚. See Figure 4.1.
Demonstration Gyroscope (A) Released from rest 012-05327B (B) Released with forward speed Figure 4.
012-05327B Demonstration Gyroscope Technical Support Feed-Back Contacting Technical Support If you have any comments about this product or this manual please let us know. If you have any suggestions on alternate experiments or find a problem in the manual please tell us. PASCO appreciates any customer feed-back. Your input helps us evaluate and improve our product.
