top

Also known as spinning top, spintop, toy top, top toy

toy designed to spin rapidly on the ground, the motion of which causes it to remain precisely balanced on its tip because of its rotational inertia

AI overview

A top is a toy that spins rapidly on the ground, and its spinning motion keeps it balanced upright on its tip rather than falling over. It matters because it's a classic example of how rotational physics works in practice—the spinning creates inertia that stabilizes the top, making it a simple yet fascinating demonstration of how motion can defy what seems like it should happen.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Gyroscope precession.gif

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Commons category: Spinning tops

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Article

An assortment of spinning tops

A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect.