PASCO ME-6837 User Manual

Bicycle Gyroscope

®

3. Bicycle

Gyroscope

Snap Hook

Handle

Counter

balances

Hand grip

Cord

Flanged

bearing
adapter

Notch

Cord

loop

2. Pull Cord
with Handle

1. Suspension Cord
with Handle

Knot

ME-6837

Instruction Sheet

012-12146A

*012-12146*

Introduction

The PASCO ME-6837 Bicycle Gyroscope can be used to dem­onstrate the fun and surprising properties of a rotating high mass
gyroscope.

Note: It is easier to operate the gyroscope with two people than
with one person.

Included

1. Suspension Cord with Handle

2. Pull Cord with Handle (111 cm or 44 in)

3. Bicycle Gyroscope

800-772-8700 www.pasco.com

®

Model No. ME-6837 Recommended

Cord

Cord

loop

Snap
Hook

Handle

Axle

Figure 1

Recommended

• Rotating Chair (ME-6856)

• Hooked Mass Set (SE-8759)

• Braided Physics String (SE-8050)

• Photogate Head (ME-9498A)

Operation

The gyroscope is balanced by the manufacturer. You do not need
to adjust the counterbalances that are on the rim of the wheel.

Spin up the gyroscope using the starter handle.

• Put the knotted end of the pull cord in the notch on the
edge of the flanged bearing adapter.

• Wrap the cord around the pulley of the adapter.

• Have one person hold the gyroscope by the hand grips
and have the second person quickly pull the handle so that
the cord causes the gyroscope to spin.

1. Demonstrate precession by hanging the spinning gyroscope
by the cord.

• First, show that a non-spinning gyroscope does fall if you
suspend one end of the axle from the cord and let go of
the other end of the axle. Start with a non-spinning gyro­scope. Connect the snap hook of the suspension cable
through the hole in one end of the axle so that the gyro­scope can be suspended by the cord. Hold the other hand
grip so the axle is horizontal. Release the hand grip so the
gyroscope is suspended by the cord..

• Next, show that a spinning gyroscope does not fall when
you release the hand grip. Keep the suspension cord
attached to the axle. Hold the other hand grip so the gyro­scope axle is horizontal Wrap the pull cord around the
pulley of the flanged bearing adapter. Pull the cord to spin
the gyroscope. Release the hand grip. Instead of falling,
the spinning gyroscope slowly rotates in a circle (pre­cesses) around the cord from which it is hanging (see Fig­ure 1).

2. Determine the rotational inertia of the gyroscope. Clamp the
hand grips of the gyroscope to support rods so the gyro is
vertical and free to rotate. Secure a string to the notch in the
flanged bearing adapter, and wrap the string around the pul­ley. Attach a mass to the string and let the mass drop to
accelerate the gyroscope. You can measure the acceleration
of the gyroscope using a Photogate*.

3. Demonstrate the conservation of angular momentum. Sit on
a rotating chair (such as the ME-6856) while holding the
hand grips of the spinning gyroscope at arms length. Hold
the gyro so that it is vertical. Turn the hand grips of the gyro
to rotate the axle clockwise or counterclockwise and observe
what happens. Carefully stop the gyroscope from rotating by
rubbing against the outer edge of the gyro and observe the
resulting angular momentum of you and the rotating chair.

4. Use the gyroscope as a top: After spinning up the gyroscope,
place the rounded end of a hand grip down on the floor or a
table and let the gyro spin horizontally like a top.

*The nine holes and one notch on the edge of the flanged bearing
adapter are evenly spaced and there is enough room to insert a
Photogate Head between the flange and the wheel. Connect the
Photogate Head to a Smart Timer or a PASCO interface to time
the motion of the gyroscope (see Figure 2).

2

®

Model No. ME-6837 Safety precautions

Figure 2

Photogate

Head*

Flanged bearing adapter

Line up the photogate
with the evenly
spaced holes.

Technical Support

For assistance with any PASCO product, contact PASCO at:

Address: PASCO scientific

10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100

Phone: [phone] (worldwide)

800-772-8700 (U.S.)

Fax: [phone]

Web: www.pasco.com

Email: [e-mail]

*Use only the “A” version Photogate Head or Accessory Photogate (or
newer).

Safety precautions

Keep loose objects; hair, fingers, clothing etc. away from spin­ning spokes and axle.

Do not drop the gyroscope from any height or allow it to roll
away.

For more information about the Bicycle Gyroscope and the latest
revision of this Instruction Sheet, visit:

www.pasco.com/go?ME-6837

Limited Warranty

For a description of the product warranty, see the PASCO catalog.

Copyright

The PASCO scientific 012-12146A Bicycle Gyroscope Instruction Sheet is
copyrighted with all rights reserved. Permission is granted to non-profit
educational institutions for reproduction of any part of this manual, provid­ing the reproductions are used only in their laboratories and classrooms,
and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances,
without the written consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited.

Trademarks

PASCO and PASCO scientific are trademarks or registered trademarks of
PASCO scientific, in the United States and/or in other countries. All other
brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service
marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of, their respective
owners. For more information visit www.pasco.com/legal.

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