New Developments in Science 603 



tried to eat breakfast on an ocean liner when the ship is rolling 

 heavily, you can appreciate what a comfort it would be to have 

 this rolling overcome. Here is where the gyroscope is of great 

 assistance. One or more huge gyroscopes, called gyro-stabilizers, 

 are firmly fastened in the center of the ship. The huge wheels of 

 the gyro-stabilizers are turned by electric motors. Because of its 

 tendency to remain spinning in the same position, and because it 

 takes such a great force to change that position, each gyro-stabil- 

 izer resists the attempts of the waves to roll the ship. The stabil- 

 izers cannot prevent the rolling entirely, but they will not allow 

 the ship to roll beyond a certain point. Very few ships are at 

 present equipped with gyro-stabilizers, but these instruments have 

 proved successful where used. 



Gyro-stabilizers are also used in airplanes. There are two 

 types of airplane stabilizers. In one type the stabilizer works 

 much the same as that on a ship. In the other type, the gyroscope 

 operates by relays a system of levers that move the little hinged 

 surfaces on the rear of the wings that are used to keep the ship 

 on an even keel. The airplane is thus automatically balanced 

 through the action of the gyroscope. 



Torpedoes used in naval warfare are equipped with gyro- 

 stabilizers. The stabilizer is set in motion by compressed air just 

 before the torpedo leaves the tube. Torpedoes travel at the speed 

 of an express train, about eight or ten feet below the surface of 

 the water. The gyro-stabilizer helps the torpedo to maintain its 

 level, keeps the course true, and brings the torpedo back to its 

 original direction if anything should turn it aside. The gyroscope 

 continues to spin for about fifteen minutes, which is about as long 

 as a torpedo can travel. 



The Gyro-Compass. The magnetic compass, as we have 

 learned, is affected by any steel that is near it. When ships, espe- 

 cially battleships, began using larger and larger quantities of 

 steel, it was found that all this steel was interfering with the 

 proper working of the compasses on these ships. This led to the 

 invention of the gyro-compass. 



The gyro-compass is essentially a gyroscope, in which the 

 wheel is turned rapidly by an electric motor. A dial attached to 



