Spinning Tops

A couple glass spinning tops are available in the demo room. These spinning tops are quite small, about 2.5cm in diameter.

To demonstrate the effect of gyroscopic precession on the motion of spinning tops.

• Spinning top

Simply hand-spin the tops. The angular velocity of precession of a top is independent of the angle of slope of the axis of the top and while the top maintains speed this can be shown. As the top straightens up the angular velocity of precession remains constant. As speed of rotation falls away the angular velocity of precession increases and this can also be shown.