Design Squad Challenge

Tinkering with Tops Student Resource

Design a Spinning Top

The Problem:

You are a team of engineers who have been given the challenge to design a spinning top out of everyday items. The top needs to be able to spin for at least 10 seconds within a circle that is 30 cm in diameter. The top that can spin the longest in the circle is the winner.

Brainstorm:

Meet as a team and discuss the problem you need to solve. Gather information on top design by carefully reading the "All About Tops" student resource (below) and visiting the Spinning Tops and YoYo Museum. REMEMBER to TAKE NOTES!

• Go to the student resource page. Be sure to complete a TOP COMPONENTS slide for your group!

DESIGN:

Develop and agree on a design for your spinning top. You'll need to determine what materials you want to use. The constraints of your design will be the materials you are limited to using:

• sharpened pencils
• pens
• toothpicks
• cds
• coffee stirrers
• marbles
• paper plates
• plastic lids
• pennies
• metal washers
• tape
• string
• clay
• scissors
• stopwatches
• ruler

Draw a diagram of your design on the paper provided.

Build, Test, and Re-Design:

Build your top. Tips: You may want to experiment with different quantities of weights and the placement of those weights, as well as the distance between the body of the top and the point. During construction and during testing you may decide you need additional materials or that your design needs to change. This is ok – just make a new sketch and revise your materials list.

Each team will test their top. You'll need to time your test to make sure your top can spin for at least 10 seconds within a circle that is 30 cm in diameter. Be sure to watch the tests of the other teams and observe how their different designs worked. Enter your data in this spreadsheet.

Evaluation Phase:

After reviewing and discussing the class data, evaluate your teams' results by completing this form.

Share Solutions:

As a team, discuss how you would like to share your final design solution for the best spinning top. Remember, your team can still REVISE your design based on the class' pooled data. Options can include:

• a pamphlet advertising the success of your top design
• a magazine advertisement
• a television commercial (script or imovie)
• a scientific review

Your product should include pictures, charts, and diagrams, and must stress the scientific evidence and reasoning for your claim.