How to make a Gyroscope?

This homemade gyroscope project operates on the fundamental principles of rotational dynamics, angular momentum, and conservation of momentum. The system is powered by a standard 9V battery controlled via a simple manual switch. When the switch is closed, current flows from the battery into the small DC motor, causing its armature to spin rapidly. Attached directly to the motor's shaft is a large CD disk, which acts as the primary rotating mass or rotor. Because the CD has a relatively large diameter and carries significant mass toward its outer perimeter compared to its center, it possesses a high moment of inertia when spun at high revolutions per minute. A counterweight is integrated into the assembly to balance the mechanical structure, ensuring stable rotation and minimizing unwanted vibrational wobble. Once the motor brings the CD up to operational speed, the assembly stores substantial angular momentum along its spin axis. When external forces or torques are applied to tilt or rotate the frame of this DIY device, the gyroscope exhibits gyroscopic precession—resisting the applied torque by turning at a right angle to the force rather than simply falling over. This mechanical behavior effectively demonstrates how rotating masses maintain spatial orientation without requiring complex microcontrollers, programmed logic, or closed-loop feedback systems.