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[ta0]

On the last newsletter from Grand Illusions this video from Tim's toy museum is featured.  I almost did not watch it as it seemed to be about a simple magnetic attraction between a bunny and an (Easter) egg . . . but boy was I surprised!



I am amazed he can get such fast and continuous spin.  I need to do some experiments . . .

[johnm]

Thanks for the video, I have to search around for my plastic egg.  For the collectors, it is from Chadwick


It is never a bad idea to watch the toy videos from Grand Illusions.  I don't recall seeing this one posted on the forum before.

[ta0]

Thanks John for identifying the brand. I found one on Ebay and got it (just $0.99 . . . plus $7.99 for shipping by regular mail  )

It arrived today and it was even better than on the video: instead of being attracted by the bunny, the egg is repelled.  As you approach it with the rabbit, the egg starts to spin at a good clip and will continue doing so as long as you chase it 

To me the effect was very surprising.  After some thinking and experimentation by replacing the bunny with a magnet, I figured out how it works. It is actually a very simple setup.  But there is genius in simplicity.  If you want to think about it, here is a clue: the egg always spins in the same direction, but that direction is determined by the type of rabbit.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Ahhh.....the type of rabbit!  Like the domestic or the wild rabbit?  Or the cylindrical or the compact rabbit?  Or the fully arched or the semi-arched rabbit?  Or maybe the jill or the jack rabbit?

[ta0]

Ahhh.....the type of rabbit!  Like the domestic or the wild rabbit?  Or the cylindrical or the compact rabbit?  Or the fully arched or the semi-arched rabbit?  Or maybe the jill or the jack rabbit?

   Like in left-handed and right-handed rabbits.  Considering that the rabbit can also be attractive or repulsive to the egg, there are 4 different types of rabbits.

Second clue: given a rabbit, you can modify the egg to be attracted or repelled to the rabbit, but you cannot change the direction it rotates; that is solely given by the rabbit.

[jim in paris]

eh eh i'll have a "welsh rarebit" while i think it over

 

jim

[ta0]

Here is a different version of the bunny and egg replaced with a mirror and a ballerina. It's German but I found it on the French site toupie-shop.com mentioned by Hydrus.

[ta0]

For completeness, I'll add to this thread the Magic Top/Magische Kreisel, from Germany, or as the instructions said, Magneto No. 149, that is in Lourens Bas collection.





Contrary to the others, this is a true top (well, if the tip was more rounded it would certainly be).

[ta0]

Science youtuber Steve Mould discovered the toy and made a funny video explaining it:

[lincolnrick]

If you haven't yet, and you like science, put Steve Mould in your YouTube feed. His videos aren't usually this silly, but he does a very good job of asking/answering science questions.

[Jeremy McCreary]

If you haven't yet, and you like science, put Steve Mould in your YouTube feed. His videos aren't usually this silly, but he does a very good job of asking/answering science questions.

Agree. I usually learn a lot -- even about familiar subjects.