Objective:
To Design and construct a top that which will continue to spin for the longest possible time after it has been set in motion.
Rules:
1. Each team will consist of one or two students
2. The top must be constructed from common household or hardware items
3. Gyroscopes, commercial tops, pre-existing structures, and singular objects are not allowed
4. Tops can be set into motion by tossing, hand-twirling, or the use of a pull(manual) (no other methods are permitted)
5. Only one student is permitted to start the top in motion
6. Each team must start its own top
7. The use of other teams pull mechanisms and/or starting blocks is not permitted
8. Once the top is in motion, no additional energy may be added to it
9. All tops must spin on the tile classroom floor (No foreign substances on top or tile)
10. The top must spin about a point on which it will not balance unsupported when not spinning
11. A top that does not fall over, on its own, when it stops spinning will have that trial disqualified
12. The maximum diameter of the top is 15.0 cm (6 inch pulley is illegal)
13. Writing utensils may not be used as the axis of rotation
14. Students are responsible for cleaning up any mess they make
15. Mr. Fabo reserves the right to penalize or disqualify any entry
This was a difficult project, but i will say the key, make it heavy, but not heavy enough so that it drills holes into the ground. mine drilled small pinpoint holes, but only about .2cm deep. one of the other contestants had a 15lb top, but it drilled holes into the ground about 1 cm deep, and then would just slow down due to friction caused by the top. also, how balanced you can make it is nice.
mine was turned on a lathe by myself, it was made out of 1/2" aluminum i believe. i ended up with a time of 7:43. 3 of the other 4 were made from a weight, with a rod in the middle, and the second place competitor was made out of copper, milled and turned, weighing in at 15lbs.
photos
tell me what you would have changed? i would have made it heavier, but i did not have thicker aluminum.
MIKE
To Design and construct a top that which will continue to spin for the longest possible time after it has been set in motion.
Rules:
1. Each team will consist of one or two students
2. The top must be constructed from common household or hardware items
3. Gyroscopes, commercial tops, pre-existing structures, and singular objects are not allowed
4. Tops can be set into motion by tossing, hand-twirling, or the use of a pull(manual) (no other methods are permitted)
5. Only one student is permitted to start the top in motion
6. Each team must start its own top
7. The use of other teams pull mechanisms and/or starting blocks is not permitted
8. Once the top is in motion, no additional energy may be added to it
9. All tops must spin on the tile classroom floor (No foreign substances on top or tile)
10. The top must spin about a point on which it will not balance unsupported when not spinning
11. A top that does not fall over, on its own, when it stops spinning will have that trial disqualified
12. The maximum diameter of the top is 15.0 cm (6 inch pulley is illegal)
13. Writing utensils may not be used as the axis of rotation
14. Students are responsible for cleaning up any mess they make
15. Mr. Fabo reserves the right to penalize or disqualify any entry
This was a difficult project, but i will say the key, make it heavy, but not heavy enough so that it drills holes into the ground. mine drilled small pinpoint holes, but only about .2cm deep. one of the other contestants had a 15lb top, but it drilled holes into the ground about 1 cm deep, and then would just slow down due to friction caused by the top. also, how balanced you can make it is nice.
mine was turned on a lathe by myself, it was made out of 1/2" aluminum i believe. i ended up with a time of 7:43. 3 of the other 4 were made from a weight, with a rod in the middle, and the second place competitor was made out of copper, milled and turned, weighing in at 15lbs.
photos
tell me what you would have changed? i would have made it heavier, but i did not have thicker aluminum.
MIKE
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