The Inventors Projects

SPINNING TOP

We believe in projects that bring together science, art, and creativity, inspiring children to learn in a practical and engaging way

Discover, as a family, how this experience inspires curious minds and sparks children’s interest in science. Together, we can:

  • Revisit the concepts covered in class!

  • Explore the legacy of Katherine Johnson and understand the practical applications related to the project!

  • Stimulate curiosity and encourage critical thinking in young inventors!

Let’s turn learning into a memorable and fun experience!

Let your creativity take a spin

The Spinning Top project takes you on a journey through the world of physics

This hands-on experience invites young inventors to create a device called the Spinning Top, based on a range of physics concepts.

It sparks children’s curiosity and creativity towards the world of physics, allowing them to learn – in a practical and fun way – ideas developed by many pioneers of science. It encourages them to explore the world around them with an inventive mindset.

This reflects the mission to inspire future inventors to think outside the box and apply their knowledge in creative and innovative ways.

 

About InspiringInventors

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson

1918-2020

She was an American mathematician whose orbital mechanics calculations, while working with NASA, were crucial to the success of the United States’ first and subsequent manned spaceflights. Her work included calculating trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths for the Project Mercury space missions. Her calculations were also essential in the early stages of the Space Shuttle programme, and she was involved in planning a mission to Mars. She became known for her extraordinary mathematical ability and her work with spaceflight trajectories, using linear models at a time when technological resources and recognition were scarce.

Ask Katherine Johnson

The AI version of Katherine Johnson your questions

This dialogue box uses artificial intelligence and is configured to respond exclusively to questions related to the project, its concepts and associated fields, as well as queries and curiosities about the history of each inventor. Questions outside this scope may not be answered. Always use under adult supervision.

Thank you for your understanding.

ConceptsCovered

Gyroscope Effect

  • Gyroscope Effect: When you spin a top, whether using a string or just your hand, unlike many other objects, it keeps spinning upright for quite a long time. Only after some time does it lose its balance and fall. This happens because of the gyroscopic effect

Linear Momentum

Linear Momentum: Sometimes in physics, we need measurements that combine several values. Linear momentum is one such measurement, bringing together an object’s speed and mass. Is calculated by multiplying an object’s mass by its velocity, giving us information about the momentum of that object. For example: what is the impulse of a light object moving at a low speed compared to the impact of the same object, with the same mass, but moving at a much higher speed?

Why this project?

The Spinning Top project was created with three main goals:

  1. Understanding key concepts: In this project, young inventors discover the practical value of physics concepts such as the gyroscopic effect and the linear model.
  2. Recognising Real-World impact: With Spinning Top, young inventors explore how these concepts are applied in real-world technologies that shape our society — including drone systems, navigation tools, and virtual reality devices.
  3. Fostering creativity and inventive thinking: By taking part in this process, young inventors develop key skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and hand-eye coordination. In the end, playing with the Spinning Top makes the whole experience even more special.

By the end of the session, young inventors will have gained a new appreciation for the world of physics.

Together, we discover how physics spins around knowledge!

Challenges for you

Ask your young inventor what excited them the most in class, or try out the project together at home. Turn this moment into an exciting race of curiosity for the whole family!

For the bravest inventors, share what inspired you most or showcase your car experiments. Make this a memorable adventure for everyone!

Link to Instagram

Together, let's turn learning into boundless curiosity!

The Inventors UK
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