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A gyroscope unaffected by outside forces will continue to spin and to point in the same direction virtually forever. The Earth, for instance, is essentially a large gyroscope that maintains its orientation with the Sun. This unique property makes the gyroscope a critical component of important navigation systems, such as airplane autopilots or rocket guidance.

In the real world, the momentum of a gyroscope — just like that of a university — can be dissipated by external forces, such as friction. True bearing can be lost. The university can overcome those obstacles through creative energy.

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