Homeschool Science Lesson - What Makes a Top Spin?

Since it seems like we're all homeschooling right now, we thought we'd bring you a FUN science (or maybe social studies or vocabulary or even physics?!) lesson about a spinning top! Did you know that a Schulte spinning top has different parts?

The Parts of a Top

We refer to the largest diameter of the top as the flywheel. It is where most of the energy from the spin is stored. The portion extending above the flywheel is referred to as the stem or handle. The top of the stem is knurled, which is the term for the pattern that is cut into the stem to give a better grip for spinning. 

Unlike traditional tops, the bottom doesn’t have a point, it instead has a ceramic ball bearing that provides a long-wearing spinning surface and better performance than a point would. Even though it is a ball bearing, it does not spin relative to the top but is fixed in place permanently and spins against the surface on which the top is spinning.

Today's science experiment: Using the knurled handle, see how long you can get a Schulte to spin. Try different grips and techniques and different surfaces to see what works best for spinning a top. Does it spin faster on different surfaces? What fingers should you use when spinning? Log your observations (and tag us on social media for extra credit!). But most importantly, have FUN!

 Order your tops here! We recommend the Multi-Pack- it comes with All Four Schulte Tops + Our Best-Selling Teak Spin Base!