Gyroscopes for demonstrating the Earth's rotation, 1883

Made:
1883 in Paris and France

Foucault's gyroscope demonstration apparatus; comprising, tripod stand 17 1/2-inch high with suspended circle, gyroscope spinning mechanism, two gyroscopes, small stand with scale, microscope and stand, mahogany stand for adjusting, gyroscope [boxes sold ScM.1806/83/1]. Used at the South Kensington Museums for demonstations.

Made by Parisian instrument makers Dumoulin-Froment, this apparatus was used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. Acquired by the Science Museum in 1883, it uses spinning gyroscopes, devices first conceived in 1852 by the French Physicist Leon Foucault. This followed his success, a year earlier, of using a pendulum to detect the Earth's rotation. In operation, the disc of the gyroscope is made to spin at high speed using the mechanism in the middle. Once spinning, it is transferred to the frame on the right and suspended by a fine silk thread with a thin pointer attached. The subsequent horizontal motion of the gyroscope can then be detected using the fine scale and microscope on the left.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1883-10
Materials:
metal
Measurements:
Bob: 150 mm
type:
demonstration models and gyroscopes
credit:
Dumaulin-Froment, P.

Parts

Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Measurements:
overall: 100 x 170 x 140 mm
Materials:
mahogany
Object Number:
1883-10 Pt1
type:
components , storage boxes and instruments
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Case for one of two gyroscopes from Foucault's gyroscope demonstration

Measurements:
overall: 100 x 170 x 140 mm
Materials:
mahogany
Object Number:
1883-10 Pt2
type:
components , storage boxes and instruments
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Tripod stand for Foucault's Gyroscope

Tripod stand for Foucault's Gyroscope

Tripod stand 17 1/2-inch high with suspended circle for Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Object Number:
1883-10 Pt3
type:
components , demonstration models and gyroscopes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Mechanism for Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Mechanism for Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Mechanism [multiplier] for spinning up gyroscopes for use in Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Object Number:
1883-10 Pt4
type:
components , demonstration models and gyroscopes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Microscope, part of Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration apparatus

Microscope, part of Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration apparatus

microscope on brass stand for reading scale used in Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Object Number:
1883-10 Pt7
type:
components and microscopes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Gyroscope from Foucault's Demonstration

Gyroscope from Foucault's Demonstration

One of two gyroscopes used in Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Object Number:
1883-10 Pt8
type:
components , demonstration models and gyroscopes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Gyroscope from Foucault's Demonstration

Gyroscope from Foucault's Demonstration

One of two gyroscopes used in Foucault's Gyroscope Demonstration

Object Number:
1883-10 Pt9
type:
components , demonstration models and gyroscopes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum