Tumbling Toy Physics

http://video_demos.colostate.edu/

Dr. Dave and Dr. Tom explain the physics of a wooden tumbling toy involving friction, impact, and dynamics.

This toy was purchased at here: http://www.toypost.co.uk/product.php?productid=113

A technical analysis can be found here:
http://www.zfm.ethz.ch/~leine/postdocmunchen_leine_glocker.htm
and in the technical paper:
Leine, R.I., Van Campen, D.H and Glocker, Ch., "Nonlinear dynamics and modeling of various wooden toys with impact and friction", Journal of Vibration and Control, Vol. 9, pp. 25-78, 2003.

More engineering and physics-related video demonstrations can be found here:

http://video_demos.colostate.edu/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• toy
• physics
• wooden
• tumbling
• friction
• impact
• dynamics

[wildwoodtoys]

Love these toys - the original toy used recycled salt and pepper cruets left over from other home-industries - really ingenious way of using simple components for completely different purposes! It was originally called a "roly-poly man" for obvious reasons. Also, manipulating the legs of the staircase alters the speed it descends at, until it looks like impossible stop-start movement.

[DrDaveBilliards]

@wildwoodtoys

Thanks for the info!

[UjjwalRane]

Great toy and an equally great explanation! The slow motion really added another dimension!

[DrDaveBilliards]

@UjjwalRane

Thanks for the comment.

[kawistarr]

So cool, thanks for making this video

[DrDaveBilliards]

@kawistarr

Thanks ... and you're welcome!

[wildwoodtoys]

@WolfgangKitteh ...yes, follow my link home

[wildwoodtoys]

I run a little wooden toy stall and this is one toy I love demonstrating. It's a real eye-catcher, along with the walking animals. Amazing such an old design, the kids and adults are almost hypnotized by the movement. By adjusting the slope you can affect that speed of the tumble - bringing it to an almost stop. Fantastic. Love the demonstrations.

[DrDaveBilliards]

@WolfgangKitteh

See the link in the video description.

[WolfgangKitteh]

Do you know where I could buy one of these?