Basic gyroscope question about replacing the flywheel with balanced masses

[mesa]

Would a pair of balanced weights connected rigidly about the spin axis operate in the same manner as a standard gyroscope with a flywheel?

 

[berkeman]

Would a pair of balanced weights connected rigidly about the spin axis operate in the same manner as a standard gyroscope with a flywheel?

What are your thougts on this?

 

[rcgldr]

You could consider a helicopter with a 2 bladed rotor to be similar to your balanced weight example, and you could do a web search for helicopter and gyroscopic effects on the rotor.

 

[AlephZero]

A solid disk, or a set of 3 or more weights/blades/whatever, has the same moment of inertia about every axis through the center of the disk. A pair weights has a large moment of inertia about one axis, and a small one about the perpendicular axis.

That difference may or may not be important, depending on the dynamics of the complete rotating system and its rotation speed.

 

[pmacias]

It is possible for a pair of balanced weights connected rigidly about the spin axis to operate in a similar manner as a standard gyroscope with a flywheel. However, there may be some differences in terms of stability and precision. The flywheel in a standard gyroscope is designed to have a high moment of inertia, which helps to maintain the stability of the system. The balanced weights may not have the same level of moment of inertia, which could affect the stability of the gyroscope. Additionally, the placement and distribution of the weights may also impact the precision of the gyroscope. It is important to carefully consider the design and construction of the system to ensure it functions effectively as a gyroscope.