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Author Topic: Spinning Top in a Vacuum Chamber  (Read 2199 times)

Kirk

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Spinning Top in a Vacuum Chamber
« on: June 15, 2014, 07:15:58 PM »

Fun!  The effect of air resistance is so amazing it is a wonder that bearing tops spin as long as they do.  Perhaps an S8 or Chico top in a vacuum chamber is still spinning some where. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTt_hoWtMIc
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Spinning Top in a Vacuum Chamber
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2014, 10:06:26 PM »

Great video.  It is something I know about, of course, but it is quite dramatic when you see the visual demonstration!
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Happiness runs in a circular motion!!!

Jack

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Re: Spinning Top in a Vacuum Chamber
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2014, 03:44:32 PM »

never heard of this, very interesting to see  :o
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ta0

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Re: Spinning Top in a Vacuum Chamber
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2014, 04:33:05 PM »

Nice demonstration!

The shape of that top causes much more air drag than our tops.  The effect wouldn't be as spectacular with ours.
But it is an experiment I had wanted to do for a long time. Actually, professor Greenler (the presenter of the "Why does a spinning top stop?" lecture) proposes that experiment in his book Chasing Rainbows. He wonders if the largest loss of spin of a peg top is due to the air friction or the tip friction. His guess was the air friction if I recall correctly, but he wasn't sure.
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