We report results of careful measurements of the periods for clockwise and anticlockwise precession (Tc and Ta) of an air suspension gyroscope. These periods were measured for various values of the frequency of spin f between 10 and 70 Hz. In our experiment Tc and Ta had a small, but significant, dependence on the current I which provides the magnetic field used to sustain the spin of the gyroscope against air friction. The measured periods depend linearly on I. The periods Tc0 and Ta0 obtained by extrapolation to I=0 are in good agreement with theoretical values: in particular, we find (i) Tc0+Ta0 (which is predominantly an inertial property dependent on the earth’s gravitational field) is proportional to f, and (ii) Tc0Ta0 (which is a noninertial property dependent mainly on the Coriolis force) is proportional to f2, as required by theory. It is suggested that the dependence of Tc and Ta on I is associated with a torque provided by the magnetic drive which constrains the spin axis of the gyroscope to lie in very nearly a horizontal plane.

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