# Can a sensitive enough gyroscope demonstrate the Earth's rotation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321 "2019-02-28T00:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/1 "2019-02-28T00:57:07Z")
Question inspired by this thread: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=871545](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=871545) ---
**Author:** ![Shagunathor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Shagunathor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagunathor)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/2 "2019-02-28T01:12:01Z")
Yes. [https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0957-0233/23/2/025005](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0957-0233/23/2/025005) Title of paper: “Using a MEMS gyroscope to measure the Earth’s rotation for gyrocompassing applications” ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/3 "2019-02-28T01:19:45Z")
Even better, Foucault invented a modern version of the gyroscope (and gave it the name) to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation in a simpler manner than the pendulum. ETA: [Link](http://physics.kenyon.edu/EarlyApparatus/Mechanics/Gyroscope/Gyroscope.html) The gyroscope doesn’t have to be particularly sensitive. But it does have to be good enough, i.e. relatively low friction, not to stop spinning before the rotation of the earth can be demonstrated. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/4 "2019-02-28T01:23:20Z")
Thanks. That’s what I thought. I just wanted some confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/5 "2019-03-01T13:15:56Z")
There are standard surveying instruments sold that determine north this way. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/6 "2019-03-01T14:54:19Z")
There is a video by a flat-earther wherein he can’t understand how a gyroscope deflects 15 degrees per hour. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sensitive-enough-gyroscope-demonstrate-the-earths-rotation/830321/7 "2019-03-01T15:47:27Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > There is a video by a flat-earther wherein he can’t understand how a gyroscope deflects 15 degrees per hour. That shouldn’t be a problem for them. A flat earth could still rotate once a day. The real test is whether the tilt of the rotational axis is different at different latitudes.