Mi-13 Spinning Top
Aim
To demonstrate precession using a spinning top.
Apparatus
- Spinning Top
Description
A spinning top is set in motion by pressing down on the handle several times. When the spinning slightly off the vertical it will begin to precess (i.e. wobble). It may temporarily spin about a vertical axis it won’t precess. As the spinning top loses speed due to friction will begin to precess. When the axis of rotation deviates further the vertical the faster it will precess.