Spinning top fixed point

Question

I have seen many explanations about the movement of a spinning top. The explanations were in a varied level, from basic newtonian mechanics to Lagrangian formalism. But I do not understand why some people consider different fixed points. In same cases it is the point of contact with the surface and others consider some point in the "middle" of the spinning top.  My question is whether this ambiguity is a misinterpretation (of those authors), a free choice to describe the movement or a difference caused from different spinning tops?

Shubham · Answer

When a top rotates, it rotates about its centre of mass. The centre of the mass is a point on the axis of rotation. Since the axis is also stationary as is the centre of mass, therefore all the points in the axis are eligible to be considered fixed about which the top is rotating.

Besides,I would prefer to use the term axis instead of a fixed point.

Muhammed Arif · Answer

Spinning of a top about a fixed point is different from spinning in space or about center of mass. When a top lean certain angle it slips like a slanting ladder because of lack of sufficient frictional force. nutation is observed in the case of a top when there is slip at the contact point.

Answered by Muhammed Arif on June 23, 2021

Spinning top fixed point

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