UFO
There are two main properties that allow the spinning top to levitate stably:
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Magnetic repulsion, which provides the force for levitation; and
-
Gyroscopic precession, an effect due to the spinning top, which accounts for the stability of the levitation.
In the ideal case, the force on the top due to the magnetic field exactly balances the force due to gravity.
Spin-stabilised levitation
There are two main properties that allow the spinning top to levitate stably:
-
Magnetic repulsion, which provides the force for levitation; and
-
Gyroscopic precession, an effect due to the spinning top, which accounts for the stability of the levitation.
In the ideal case, the force on the top due to the magnetic field exactly balances the force due to gravity.
The base uses two ring magnets with north oriented upwards. The spinning top is made with a neodymium rare earth magnet with north oriented downwards.
The two norths repel, thereby providing an upwards force on the spinning top due to the magnetic field of the base.
Base
Top
Variation
