wander

wander

[′wän·dər]

(geophysics)

apparent wander

(electromagnetism)

scintillation

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

wander (gyro)

Gyro α at position 1 has its spin axis aligned with true North. The gyro maintains its alignment in space, the direction of true North relative to the gyro changes as the earth rotates and the observer's position in space moves through positions 2 and 3 to 4. This is apparent wander. Its value is zero at equator and increases as one moves toward the poles where it is maximum.

The movement of the spin axis of a gyroscope from its original position. Its value is the maximum at the poles and the least at the equator. This is one of the errors or shortfalls in a gyroscope.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved