What term is used to describe a gyro's ability to keep its axis fixed in space?

The term that describes a gyro's ability to keep its axis fixed in space is "rigidity." This characteristic allows a gyroscope to maintain its orientation despite the movements of the platform on which it is mounted. It is this rigidity that enables gyros to be used effectively in navigation and stabilization systems.

When a gyroscope spins, it tends to resist changes to its axis of rotation due to angular momentum, which is a manifestation of this rigidity. This principle is crucial in applications such as aircraft instrumentation, spacecraft attitude control, and inertial navigation systems, where maintaining a stable reference frame is essential for accuracy in performance.

Other terms, like stability and precision, refer to different concepts in the study of gyroscopes and motion. Stability may refer to how well a system maintains its position over time, precision relates to the accuracy of measurements, and anchorage is not a standard term in this context. Each of these terms highlights different aspects of a gyroscope’s functionality but does not specifically define the ability to keep its axis fixed in space.