James McClure
Sculpture & Woodturning    
 

Title: Supersized Spin Top 2

Size: 16" x 14" x 14"

Year: 2010

Materials: Wood (Walnut, Poplar, Lignum Vitae, Mulberry), Dye, Brass

Description: This piece is a functional super sized spin top.  The challenge with making a functional super sized top is keeping it balanced.  Weights were added to achieve balance.  Be sure to check out the video of the top spinning below.

This top is used by the Astronomy Department at Boston University for demonstrations in astronomy and astrophysics classes.  It is used for demonstrating dynamical phenomena associated with rotating astronomical objects, including the precession and nutation (Chandler's Wobble) of the Earth; precession of neutron stars; and even to show jets emanating from rapidly rotating black holes in active galactic nuclei.

 

Check out this video of the top actually spinning.

 

 

All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2008