In #MESExperiments 32 I compare the rising behavior of a Tippe Top, a Phi Top, and an Unspun vs. Spun Up Gyro with 2 degrees of Freedom. The Tippe Top is a mushroom shaped spinning top that rises completely upside down when spun, raising its center of mass. The Phi Top or solid steel egg also rises upwards raising its center of mass when spun up. An unspun gyroscope that is in gimbles such that it can turn about the vertical and horizontal axis will align itself vertically when torqued horizontally. But when that same gyroscope is spun up, torquing it horizontally will make the gyro precess until it lines with the direction of the torque horizontally. In that latter, there are 2 key conditions: stable and unstable torque. When torqued horizontally in the gyro spin direction, the condition is stable and the gyro will not precess. When torqued in the exact opposite direction, the gyro is in an unstable condition and any slight deviation from a perfect horizontal torque will induce precession and flip the gyro completely upside down. Very interesting stuff!

Unedited experiment:

Timestamps

• Tippe Top flips upside down: 0:00
• Phi Top rises vertically upwards: 0:42
• Unspun Gyroscope aligns vertically: 1:36
• Spun Gyroscope aligns with horizontal torque: 2:01
• Torquing opposite of gyro spin is unstable: 2:35
• Torquing in direction of gyro spin is stable: 2:40

Stay tuned for #MESExperiments 33...

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Screenshots of Experiment

For reference here are screenshots of the experiment.