Data Sheet

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Inset rip cords into the
gyroscope (top) and flywheel
engine (bottom) components of
the rip-cord gyrobot model.
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Hold the model by the
underside of the gyroscope.
Place the gyrobot on the
track in the launch chute,
making sure that the wheels
are centered on the ridge of
the track. Pull the rip cords
at the same time (or start
with the gyroscope rip cord)
and immediately release the
gyrobot. How is the gyrobot
able to move up an incline
without assistance?
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The gyroscope keeps the gyrobot from falling off
the track and the flywheel engine transfers power
to the wheels to move the model forward along
the track. You added energy to the system with
your pull of the rip cords. The energy is then used
to spin the gyroscope and flywheel, which keep
spinning due to their momentum. Momentum is a
measure of an object’s mass multiplied by its
velocity (which is its speed in a specific
direction). Momentum keeps the gyrobot model
moving along the track. Read more about
momentum on the next Check It Out page.
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Gyroscopes & Flywheels
EXPERIMENT 7
“U-turn” track