Gyroscope

Ever wondered why bicyclists can keep their balance better while moving fast? Because of the principle of conservation of angular momentum, the spinning wheels of the bike resist any force that changes their angular velocity i.e. to lose their orientation (much like the way, the principle of conservation of linear momentum resists any force that causes an object's velocity to change). Therefore while gravity tends to make the bike fall down, the wheels want to keep their orientation stable (which is standing).

A device that utilizes this effect is called "Gyroscope". Α flywheel spins at a high speed in the inside of the device while the outer supportive frame remains stable. If we torque the device in any way, the flywheel (still spinning) will resist this motion. Lightwheight gyroscopes can remain standing this way because the gravitational force cannot overcome this resistance. It can also maintain counter-intuitive stances because of this. Watch the following video for a demonstration.



(Love the string tricks)
This way we can measure orientation and rotation. Therefore this device has applications in inertial navigation systems (Gyrocompass), or for the stabilization of flying vehicles like radio-controlled helicopters. In addition, gyroscopes have been introduced in consumer electronics like iPhone and Wii Remote. Physics lead  the way!
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