Why does a spinning top balance better when it is spinning?

[Andrew Wright]

TL;DR

Christmas cracker spinning top makes me think it should fall over.

I took a spinning top out of a christmas cracker and watched it for a while. So I think a spinning top should just fall over like it does when it is at rest. Why does it "work"? It balances better when you spin it on its axis.

 

[scottdave]

This video should help you understand it.

 

[zoki85]

How should I understand it when she is talking about "rising ups", "eggs", "frictions" all the time...

 

[Cutter Ketch]

This video should help you understand it.

What a great video! Thanks for sharing.

 

[vanhees71]

How should I understand it when she is talking about "rising ups", "eggs", "frictions" all the time...

Have you watched this great clip to the end. It's very well explained!

 

[zoki85]

Have you watched this great clip to the end. It's very well explained!

I'd guess it is but there were too many subliminal messages of a different kind so it was hard for me to follow...

 

[phinds]

I'd guess it is but there were too many subliminal messages of a different kind so it was hard for me to follow...

Huh ? I'm not sure you understand that word.

 

[zoki85]

Huh ? I'm not sure you understand that word.

*subconscious* fits better perhaps

 

[phinds]

*subconscious* fits better perhaps

So what are the subconscious messages in that video?

 

[scottdave]

How should I understand it when she is talking about "rising ups", "eggs", "frictions" all the time...

This was just one I picked. There are dozens of videos about gyroscopes. I would definitely watch several of them: gyroscopic behavior goes against our intuition. Watching several different people explain it in slightly different ways can help it to sink in.

 

[phinds]

So what are the subconscious messages in that video?

@zoki85 I'm still waiting for your answer to this.

 

[zoki85]

 

[vela]

This video should help you understand it.

Now I'm going to have to hard-boil an egg and try it out myself!