🚀 go-pugleaf

Matt,
We were actually playing with one of these tops in my physics classes
right before our break.  My info comes from the book entitled "Toys in
Space" by Dr. Carolyn Sumners.  According to her, there is no point on
the top for it to spin on.  As it spins then, gravity pulls it over and
therefore a it has a "wobbling" axis.  Gravity pulls enough that the top
flips entirely over onto its handle, which is a stable axis and
continues to spin.

I spent the three days before break using toys from the toys in space
series to have the students explain how they worked and what would happen
in microgravity.  It was lots of fun, perfect for right before break, and
there was an amazing amount of physics thinking and talking going on.

Jennifer Wright
Mercer Island High School


On Mon, 10 Apr 1995, Matt Tuley wrote:

> ...on the next Geraldo!
>
>
> You know the kind I mean.  These little tops are spherical with a little peg
> for a handle.  When spun they spin (natch), the peg drops down to the side,
> then to the surface, and then the whole top pops up and spins on the peg
> until friction "wins" and it falls over and comes to rest.
>
> Now, why?  My colleagues and I are stumped. We have a few ideas, but if anyone
> knows we'd appreciate some help on this.  A pointer to a journal article or
> book or somesuch would be fine.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>   Matt Tuley                                              tuley@csn.org
>
>                                                            \
>        -()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()- >=====
>                                                            /
>
>    Making my own little dent in the infinite Spandex of the universe...
>