A gyrocompass is similar to a
gyroscope.
It is a compass
that finds
true north by using an (electrically powered) fast-spinning wheel and
friction forces in order to exploit the rotation of the Earth. Gyrocompasses are
widely used on ships.
They have two main advantages over magnetic compasses:
- they find true north, i.e.,
the direction of
Earth's rotational axis, as opposed to
magnetic north,
- they are not affected by ferrous metal in a
ship's hull. (No compass is affected by nonferrous metal, although a magnetic
compass will be affected by non-ferrous wires with current running through
them.)
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