The Dance of the Spinning Top

Abstract

An interpretation of the spinning top movement, the so-called "dance of the spinning top" is proposed. It is based on a mechanical model without a central force, owing to the absence of the same, in spite of the fact that there is curvilinear movement. The path can be interpreted by means of the Theory of Dynamic Interactions. This interpretation is valid regardless of the way in which the spinning top has been activated and the manner in which it is bound by the environment. Following on from the foregoing, we suggest that planetary movement around the sun or that of artificial satellites around the Earth and, in general, all objects endowed with angular momentum on one of their rotating axes in translation and subject to non-coaxial external momenta, could also be interpreted in this way.