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Re: Gyro sextant
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2019 Jan 26, 17:38 -0500
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2019 Jan 26, 17:38 -0500
Bill
You wrote:
but they must be explained in a way that a twelve-year-old could easily follow.
So here is my new explanation:
The gyro stands straight up, due to magic!
But really kids, when you grow up and understand such topics as inertia, torque, sliding friction, mass, moments and vector analysis, then and only then will you have the tools to evaluate what is happening. [The reference to the proper textbook should replace this sentence].
Bill, a 12 year old may be lucky to have some algebra, but certainly no trigonometry. Spinning objects, inertia and torque will come much, much later in their educational career, like a college level course in mechanisms. Vector analysis would be university mathematics major. If you insist that a 12 year old understand it, then "magic" is a good as an answer as any.
A more responsible answer will simply refer those who are truly interested (in the physics, mechanics and math required) to the dang textbook. Other than that, there simply isn't a simple answer. That a 12 year old can understand?? Hahahahaha!
Brad
On Sat, Jan 26, 2019, 4:47 PM Bill Morris <NoReply_Morris@fer3.com wrote:
An interim thank you to all those who have so far responded to my original post.
I have in mind to do a couple of experiments in response to some of the points raised and will report on them as soon as I am able. Meanwhile, please keep on commenting.
For those who might be after the prize, and only Sean C has tried for it so far, I will permit the use of "vector" and "resultant", but they must be explained in a way that a twelve-year-old could easily follow.
Bill Morris
Pukenui
New Zealand
