Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-11-01
WHIRLINC BODIES
They Invariably Tend to Point to
the Pole Star.
SCIENCE AND SPINNING A TOP.
That the Earth Revoives on tie Axis
May Be Proved by a Simple Expert
ment With the oyrostat-Phenornena
Of Rapidly Revolving Objects.

nent With the Gyrostat-Phenornens
Of Rapidly Revolving Objects.
Spinning top IL not always child's
play. although II has generally been re-
garded us IA juvenile sport Once In
England top whipping was practically
ordered by law. There was huge
top formerly provided In every village
10 Ice whipped In frosty weather that
the peasants might be kept warm by
the exercise aud out of mischief while
they could not work Shakespeare in
Twelfth Night says. His brains
turn like parish top" Ben Jonson
In New Inn writes. He spins like
a parish top and Beaumont and
Fletcher have dances like town top
and reels and hobbies" Evelyn, the
diarist. speaking OF the uses OF willow
wood. says that II was ordered that
''the great town tops should be made
thereof"
or late years. however. science has
taken n hand in spinning tops with
we can learn many interesting and
valuable things. For example. We can
prove that the earth revolves on Its
axis and calculate ut what speed.
The phenomena OF spinning bodies
are extremely interesting II you throw
your hat into the air but without spin
ming II. II will fall perhaps on one side.
perhaps ON the other. but IL you give It
spinning motion before sending II
into the air II will always come down
the same side down as II went up. The
same thing Is true OF coins and in fact
OF all objects spun In this manner. A
knife. II merely thrown into the air.
may come down nj any angle. but II
held point down and sent spinning into
the air 1t will on falling stick its point
into the floor invariably.
Other bodies acquire rgidity when
spun rapidly Thus piece OF chain
II placed on n wheel and made to re-
yolve rapidly will form n perfect circle
and II thrown on the wheel suddenly
will roll across the table or the door
Just like II solid hoop until Its speed Is
diminished when II will fall into
huddIed mass.
II Il u strange fact that spinning
bodies always tend to point 10 the
north star-thc pole star. Gently. but
firmly. they seem to tug at their moor.
ings In an effort TO assume the angle
that will point them In that direction
Once they have attained II they do not
vary
IT, now. YOU want to prove the rota-
tion al the earth by means of spin
ming top you can do SO AS follows;
bile of being driven by electricity so
that II can run for twenty four hours
or more without stopping. Set this go
Ing and point II to the north or pole
star II will soon assume that direc.
ton. Now as the axis OF the top Is
pointed Ia certain direction isay the
north wall of the room, and stays
there. without ever moving. this will
be guide to you TO check OF your OBJ
servations And ~ you watch you will
notice that in six hours time the top
will point 10 the west and six hours
later to the south. six hours later to
the east and at the conclusion OF the
tweniy.four hours II will have complet.
ed the circle aud will again be point
Ing due north. II will have completed
the circuit Of the four walls OF the
room.
What does this mean? II means that
the room has revolved round the top.
but rs the room Is fixed to the solid
earth II implies that the whole earth
has revol,cd round the top. which
alone remained stationary. Conse
quently we have proved by this means
that the earth has turned once round
on its axis. and that II does so turn.
aud that the heavens remain still and
stationary
Many interesting astronomical dis
coverics have been made by the aid
Of spinning tops. and the facts obtain
ed 10y their study have been applied to
the rotation OF heavenly bodies. the
earth included. and the ''wabble" Of its
axis has been calculated by this means
In many ways therefore. the spinning
top Is II valuable scientific instrument.
-Hereward Darlington In New York
World