Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
this design will not work well in an airplane that is bu√eted around (by stormy
weather, for example). It will also not work in an airplane that is flying east at a
high speed that corresponds to the speed of the rotating earth because then the
gyrocompass will remain at position
a
as the earth rotates beneath it and will feel
no torque. This instrument was originally designed for use on board big ships,
which move slowly. Modern versions of the gyrocompass, however, do work well
on airplanes.
