What are the two main fundamentals of a gyroscope?

The two main fundamentals of a gyroscope are Rigidity in Space and Precession.

Rigidity in Space refers to the tendency of a spinning gyroscope to maintain its orientation in space regardless of external forces acting on it. This characteristic allows the gyroscope to resist changes to its axis of rotation, providing stability and a reference point for navigation and attitude control in various applications, such as in aircraft and spacecraft.

Precession occurs when an external torque is applied to a spinning gyroscope, causing it to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the applied force. For instance, when a force acts on a gyroscope that is spinning, instead of tipping over in the direction of the force, it will begin to rotate around a different axis, leading to the phenomenon known as gyroscopic precession. This principle is crucial in understanding how gyroscopes can control and stabilize movements in vehicles, including airplanes.

Considering the other options, while several terms relate to the behavior of gyroscopes, they do not encapsulate the core characteristics as directly as Rigidity in Space and Precession do. For example, static equilibrium and centripetal force pertain more to general physics principles rather than specifically to gyroscopic functions. Angular momentum and energy conservation are important