Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-11-01
WHIRLINC BODIES
They Invariably Tend to Point to
the Pole Star.
SCIENCE AND SPINNING A TOP.

That the Earth Revolves on Its Aka
May Be Proved by Simple Experi-
nnent With the Gyrostat--Phenonne
Of Rapidly Revolving Objects.
Spinning top is not always child's
play. although 1t has generally been re-
garded as a juvenile sport. Once In
England top whipping was practically
ordered by law. There was a huge
top formerly provided in every village
to be whipped In frosty weather that
the peasants might be kept warm by
the exercise and out of mischief while
they could rot work Shakespeare In
Twelfth Night" says. His brains
turn like a 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
aiarist speaking of the uses OF willow
wood, says that 1t was ordered that
"the great town tops should be made
thereof"
or late years, however. science has
taken hand In spinning tops with
fruitful results From spinning tops
we can learn many interesting and
valuable things. For example we can
prove that the earth revolves on its
axis and calculate at what speed
The phenomena of spinning bodies
are extremely interesting. If you throw
your hat into the air but without spin
ming 1t. It will fall perhaps on one side.
perhaps on the other. but II you give 1t
a spinning motion before sending 1t
into the air 1t will always come down
the same side down as 1t 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 at any angle. but If
held point down and sent spinning into
the air 1t will on falling stick It's point
into the floor invariably.
Other bodies acquire rigidity when
spun rapidly. Thus q piece Of chain
If placed on a wheel and made to re-
volve rapidly will form a perfect circle
and II thrown of the wheel suddenly
will roll across the table or the door
just like a solid hoop until its speed is
diminished. when 1t will fall into
huddled mass.
1t IL strange fact that spinning
bodies always tend to point to the
north star-the 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 IT they do not
vary.
IT, now, you want to prove the rota-
ton Of the earth by means Of a spin.
ming top you can do no as follows;
Provide yourself with gyrostat capa.
ble of being driven by electricity 80
that 1t can run for twenty-four hours
or more without stopping, Set this go
ing and point It to the north or pole
star II win soon assume that direc.
Nlbu, fsNNNs NF Ahf hAlN VI NhN IVY ~
pointed in certain direction lsay the
north wall OF the ROOM and stays
there. without ever moving. this will
be guide to you to check of your OBJ
servntions And rs you witch you will
notice that In six hours time the top
will point to the west and six hours
later to the south, six hours later to
the east, and at the conclusion OF the
twenty.four hours Il Will have complet-
ed the circle and 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 az the room In hxed to the solid
earth II implies that the whole earth
hns revolved round the top. which
alone remained stationary. Conse-
quently we have proved by this means
that the earth has turned once round
on lts axis. and that It does 30 turn.
and that the heavens remain still and
stationary.
Many interesting astronomical dis
'coveries have been made by the aid
of spinning tops. and the facts obtain
ed by their study hive been applied to
the rotation Of heavenly bodies. the
earth included. and the ''wabble" Of It's
axis haa been calculated by this means.
In mnny why's, therefore. the spinning
top Is valuable scientific Instrument.
-Herewurd Carrlugton In New York
World