Flywheels and Gyros

Angular momentum is a property of an object in motion that depends on its mass, velocity, and distance from the axis of rotation. Students seem to find the concepts counterintuitive and almost magic.

 When an object rotates around an axis, it has angular momentum in the direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation.

In a gyro, a spinning rotor is mounted in a set of gimbals, which allow it to rotate freely in any direction. When the gyro is moved or rotated, the rotor resists the change in direction due to its angular momentum, causing the gimbals to move in a way that reflects the change in direction. This resistance to change in direction is known as gyroscopic stability.

Gyroscopes are commonly used in navigation systems, aircraft, and spacecraft to measure orientation and angular velocity. They are also used in stabilizing cameras, drones, and other equipment that needs to maintain a steady position in space.

Flywheels are often used as a form of energy storage because they can store energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy. This energy can be released quickly and efficiently when needed, making flywheels useful for various applications.

One of the most common applications of flywheels for energy storage is in electric or hybrid vehicles. When the vehicle is braking, the energy is used to spin up a flywheel, storing the energy as rotational kinetic energy. Later, when the vehicle needs to accelerate, the energy can be drawn from the flywheel, converting the kinetic energy back into electrical energy to power the vehicle's electric motor.

Flywheels can also be used to store energy in renewable energy systems, such as wind or solar power. The energy generated by wind turbines or solar panels can be used to spin up a flywheel, storing the energy until it is needed. This energy can be released quickly and efficiently, providing a reliable power source even when the wind is not blowing, or the sun is not shining.

Another application of flywheels for energy storage is grid stabilization. Fluctuations in power supply and demand can cause instability in the electrical grid, and flywheels can be used to smooth out these fluctuations by providing a buffer of stored energy that can be quickly released when needed.