Tippe top

A tippe top (also rate gyro ) is a gyroscope that rotates on a bearing surface after cranking perpendicular to the axis of rotation and straightens up.

Function

A dormant tippe top behaves like a stand-up guy: The focus is deeper than the center of curvature of the contact surface. Without rotation, the gyro aligned under the influence of gravity, from so that the handle is facing up.

If the tippe top set into rotation, tries gravity, to replace it. It generates a torque which aligns the gyroscope to precess in perpendicular to the fault.

There is no fixed point about which to rotate the rotors. Instead, it rolls on a circular line on the bottom, the rotation axis and the axis of symmetry are offset. The friction of the gyro on the instantaneous center of rotation produces a further torque down is determined by the distance between the two axes. The gyroscope tends steadily down until he finally turns to the other side.

Again, the force of gravity produces a torque, this time in the other direction. You tried to change the gyro. On the top there is no fixed pivot point, even if the rolling is smaller than on the underside. The torque generated by friction of the rolling off line acts in the opposite direction, and to stabilize a rotation in a vertical position to the bearing.

The direction of rotation is viewed from the outside of the roundabout ( in the inertial frame ) get so versa for observers on the top around. Because of increase of the center of gravity and friction decreases the rotation speed.

Invention

The tippe top was patented in 1891 by Helene Sperl from Munich as " gyro ". The phenomenon, however, was already known earlier. Long before children had played from the Amazon with gyros from calabashes, who stood on his head. The patent expired in 1892 out again, because the fees were not paid. The painter Alfred Lomnitz held in the 1930s, two patents at a rate gyro developed by him. Another patent dates back to 1953 by Oskar Hummel from Stuttgart.