THE DYNAMICS OF A TIPPE TOP

Despite the numerous studies devoted to the dynamics of a spinning top , some disputable issues concerning the classical motion still remain unsettled. The complexity of the six degree-of-freedom motion is compo unded by the assumptions that must be made about the friction law. In this paper, a numerical model based on a more general description of c ontact friction is developed to simulate the unusual flip behavior of an old toy, known as the Tippe top. The results appear to explain some of the puzzles raised and disputed by previous investigators.