Data Sheet

2
HERE’S HOW
1
to
4
Assemble the model first with the
purple two-to-one converter piece on
the bottom.
5
Place one of the rip cords on the table. Insert
the other rip cord into the gyroscope. Pull the
rip cord to start the gyroscope spinning.
6
Place the gyroscope on the first rip cord. Then
lift the cord up in the air with two hands. Can
you get the model to balance on the rip cord?
7
Replace the purple piece with the cone pin to
turn the gyroscope into a top!
1
2
3
4
7
Balancing top
YOU WILL NEED
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Gravity is a force of attraction between objects. The more massive an object, the
stronger its gravity. Earth’s gravity acts so strongly on us because it is so large
compared to us. Earth’s gravity pulls all objects near Earth toward its center of
gravity.
The spinning top stays balanced because of the gyroscopic principle, which says
that a spinning object tends to stay in its plane of rotation unless an external force
acts on it. The gyroscopic effect counters the force of gravity and keeps the top
from falling over.
Friction between the top and the tabletop as well as between the top and the
air eventually causes the top to slow down and fall over. That’s why a top
can’t stay spinning forever! How long can you get your top to spin?
1 3 6 23
31
16 17
24
19
29
6 x 1 x 1 x
1 x
2 x
2 x
1 x
1 x
1 x
1 x
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EXPERIMENT 2