70 GYROSCOPE. 



or less in a second (more or less according to certain cir- 

 cumstances). It seems as if it had lost its weight, or as 

 if gravity no longer acted on it, but if placed on scales 

 while in this condition, it will be found to weigh exactly 

 as much as when not moving. 



If a string be attached to the lug, and the Gyroscope 

 lifted off its support, it will go up into the air at right 

 angles to the action of gravity, and still moving slowly 

 horizontally around the end of the string. If it be jerked 

 rapidly up, or dropped down, it continues its motion 

 and position with the most perfect indifference. If an- 

 other string be attached to the opposite end of the axis, 

 and the thing be lifted by that, gently or roughly, it 

 will instantly begin to rotate (horizontally) in the oppo- 

 site direction. Everything else will be as before. 



It falls so very slowly that this motion seems to be of 

 no consequence, but if it can't fall just as it pleases, it 

 gets the sulks, and falls as if dead ; in fact it won't stay 

 up at all. The horizontal motion also seems so small as 

 to be of no account, but if it can' t do that, it won' t do 

 any thing, and down it falls at once. It is the most con- 

 trary piece of mechanism ever invented. 



The two questions which most naturally arise when 

 this instrument is exhibited, are first, why does it main- 

 tain the horizontal position without apparent support? 

 and, secondly, why does it revolve around the point of 

 support ? 



There are many other questions which any explanation 

 must meet and answer, but these are enough for the 

 present purpose, and answering them really answers all. 



Those who are familiar with the literature of the sub- 

 ject are aware that many attempts have been made to 

 show why the Gyroscope acts in this manner. Some of 

 the explanations are absurd, while others bring in the 

 higher mathematics, and therefore, can be understood 



by but few. 



22 



