Transparent Tippe Top

Get a nice tippe-top from these sources:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Flip Over Tops
From Amazon: BUY NOW Tippe-Tops 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

ransparent Tippe-Top: a recent toy shop find in a bargain bin- an oddly satisfying see through version of the inverting spin top. These flip-over tops demonstrate complex physics: friction with the surface provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where it loses stability. 

Happy Meal Physics Toy: Tippe-Tops

These vintage toys often available here:
From eBay: Search Now: McDonald's Flipover top

Get a nice tippe-top here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Flip Over Tops


Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Happy Meal Physics Toy: back in the 1980s McDonald’s included Ronald and Grimace tippe-tops (the classic flip-over physics toy), with even more physics fun from a magnifying lens formed in the clear plastic that distorts and enlarges the images of these famous promotional characters. These tops work great! Tippe-tops demonstrate complex physics: friction with the surface provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where its center of mass pulls it back to the resting position.

The Physics of Tippe-Top Inversion

Get a nice tippe-top from this fine source: 

From Etsy: BUY NOW Flip Over Tops


Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Physics of Tippe-Top Inversion: spinning things often have surprising physics! In brief: friction with the surface provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where its center of mass pulls it back to the resting position. Inversion phase shown at 240fps- note the little hop the top takes as it goes on to its stem! 


Tiny Tippe Top

Available from this shop in Germany: 
From experimentis-shop.de: BUY NOW Tiny Tippie-Top 

From Amazon: BUY NOW Tippe-Tops 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Tiny Tippe-Top: spinning things often have surprising physics! The smallest functioning version of the famous flip-over top I've ever seen. Friction with the mirror provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where its center of mass pulls it back to the resting position. 

Precision Tippe Top

Get a flip over tippe-top here:   

From Amazon: BUY NOW Tippe-Tops 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Precision Tippe-Top: spinning things often have surprising physics! This aluminum version of the famous flip-over top works better than any I’ve seen. Friction with the desk surface provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where its center of mass pulls it back to the resting position.

Fine Wood Tippe-Top

Handmade flip over tops available here: 
From Etsy: BUY NOW Flip Over Tops

Fine Wood Tippe-Top: spinning things often have surprising physics! This lathe worked version of the famous flip-over top is made of ebony and wood from the pink ivory tree. Friction with the mirror provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over. The top will stay flipped until the spin rate slows down enough to where its center of mass pulls it back to the resting position. 


Mega Tippe-Top

Here is the mega tippe-top compared to typical tippe-tops on the market and a US quarter dollar:

Limited quantities available from the Spinning Top and Yo-Yo Museum of Burlington, Wisconsin 

Educational Innovations has reasonably priced wood tippe-tops in their shop: 
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW Tippe-Tops 
From Amazon: BUY NOW Tippe-Tops 

Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated

Mega Tippe-Top: spinning things often have surprising physics. This giant version of the famous flip-over top must be launched with a string pull to give it enough rotational energy to make the flip. It is also placed on a concave mirror to keep it from wandering too far. Friction with the mirror provides a torque that acts on the existing angular momentum of the top to flip it over.