Misplaced Pages

Spinning top: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:32, 30 November 2007 editWolvereness (talk | contribs)378 editsm fixed vandalism← Previous edit Revision as of 14:03, 2 December 2007 edit undoParadocks11 (talk | contribs)26 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{otheruses}} {{otheruses}}
] ]
A '''top''', or '''spinning top''', is a ] that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. The top is one of the oldest recognizable toys found on ] sites. Besides toys, tops have also historically been used for ] and ]. Some ]rs still use tops to augment ] in generating randomized results, it is in this case referred to as a ]. A ] may also be made to spin on the same principles. A '''top''', or '''boob''' (haha boobs), is a ] that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. The top is one of the oldest recognizable toys found on ] sites. Besides toys, tops have also historically been used for ] and ]. Some ]rs still use tops to augment ] in generating randomized results, it is in this case referred to as a ]. A ] may also be made to spin on the same principles.


The action of a top relies on the ] effect for its operation. Typically the top will at first wobble until the shape of the tip and its interaction with the surface force it upright. After spinning upright for an extended period, the ], and therefore the gyroscopic effect, will gradually lessen, leading to ever increasing ], finally causing the top to topple in a frequently violent last thrash. The action of a top relies on the ] effect for its operation. Typically the top will at first wobble until the shape of the tip and its interaction with the surface force it upright. After spinning upright for an extended period, the ], and therefore the gyroscopic effect, will gradually lessen, leading to ever increasing ], finally causing the top to topple in a frequently violent last thrash.

Revision as of 14:03, 2 December 2007

For other uses, see Spinning top (disambiguation).
A Japanese top

A top, or boob (haha boobs), is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. The top is one of the oldest recognizable toys found on archaeological sites. Besides toys, tops have also historically been used for gambling and prophecy. Some role-playing gamers still use tops to augment dice in generating randomized results, it is in this case referred to as a Spinner. A thumbtack may also be made to spin on the same principles.

The action of a top relies on the gyroscopic effect for its operation. Typically the top will at first wobble until the shape of the tip and its interaction with the surface force it upright. After spinning upright for an extended period, the angular momentum, and therefore the gyroscopic effect, will gradually lessen, leading to ever increasing precession, finally causing the top to topple in a frequently violent last thrash.

In recent years there have been many developments with the technology of the top. Bearing tops, with a tip that spins, have been one of the biggest changes. Fixed tip tops and bearing tops are featured in National Championships in Chico, California and in the World Championships in Orlando, Florida. Below are results from the most recent World Championship:

2007 World Championship Final Results - 1)Matt Ritter from Tallahassee, Florida; 2)Takeshi Kamisato from Indianapolis, Indiana; 3)Jorge Alcoz from Montevideo, Uruguay and San Antonio, Texas; 4)David Buhrmester from Kansas City, Missouri; 5)Mike Hout from Miamisburg, Ohio; 6)Boyd Seth from Portland, Oregon; 7)Hamilton Yokota from Brazil;

2007 National Championship Final Results - 1)Jon Gates from Denver, Colorado; 2)Takeshi Kamisato from Indianapolis, Indiana; 3)Boyd Seth from Portland, Oregon

Types of tops

Perinola (or Pirinola)

A Perinola is a six-sided top, very similar to the ham-sandwich, that is used for a similar game in Latin America.

See also

External links

Category: