Tippe Top - Spinning Top

The Tippe Top consists of a slightly flattened sphere, with a metal stem. It looks slightly like a small mushroom! <br /> <br />If you spin the top, it starts to slide and tip over. If you spin it fast enough, it will turn completely upside down, spinning on its stem. <br /> <br />This strange piece of physics was discovered by the German physicist Helen Sperl in 1891. <br /> <br />There are very cheap versions around, made of plastic, but this designer version is made of aluminium, and comes in an elegant foam surround with a cardboard sleeve. <br /> <br />The top is about 35mm high, and the designer and maker of the top is - appropriately enough - German.