Quick Answer: The Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope is a hand-held spinning wheel about 500 mm in diameter, with a perimeter-weighted steel rim and a handle at each end of the axle. Spun up and tilted, or hung from a cord, it shows angular momentum and gyroscopic precession.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Wheel about 500 mm (20 inches) in diameter
Heavy steel rim with perimeter weighting for longer spins
Textured polymer handles on both ends of the axle
Steel ball bearings for low-friction rotation
Suspension cord and instructional guide included
Total weight about 2.5 kg
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Wheel diameter
Approx. 500 mm (20 inches)
Rim
Steel with perimeter weighting
Handles
Textured polymer, both ends of axle
Bearings
Steel ball bearings
Included
Suspension cord, instructional guide
Weight
About 2.5 kg
About This Product
A student holding the spinning wheel by both handles and trying to tilt it feels a strong push at right angles to the motion, a direct experience of gyroscopic torque. Hanging the spinning wheel from the cord by one handle and letting go of the other shows it staying upright and circling the cord instead of falling, which demonstrates precession and the conservation of angular momentum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope need a motorised spinner?
No. The wheel can be spun up by hand for all the demonstrations; a spinner only speeds the process up.
How should the Bicycle Wheel Gyroscope be maintained?
Keep the central ball bearings free of dust and occasionally add a drop of light machine or bicycle bearing oil.
