I. THE SPIN Before trying to spin the top, take off all of the weights (washers) except for the large brass washer. Secure the washer to the spindle with one of the rubber grommets provided (black ?O-Ring?).

Use the Self Starter to spin the top. This is a low cost battery operated device which when placed over the tip of the spindle, can be used to spin the top.


II. THE WEIGHT The top comes with the following assortment of weight-adjustment washers, which are used to adjust the downward gravitational force to balance the upward magnetic force.

2 Large Brass 3 grams each
3 Small Brass 1 gram each
2 Red Plastic 0.4 gram each
1 Green Plastic 0.2 gram each
2 Yellow Plastic 0.1 gram each
2 Black Rubber Grommets (?O-Rings?) used to secure the weights to the spindle

III. THE FLOAT Now lets float the top. Start with one large brass washer (3 grams) secured on the spindle.

STEP 1. Spin the top on the lifter plate over the center of the base magnet (practiced in section 1).

STEP 2. Raise the lifter plate SLOWLY, approximately 1? above the surface of the base magnet. At this point, continue lifting, but very slowly until the top lifts itself off the plate. This lifting process is similar to carefully letting out the clutch of a car. If the top is correctly weighted and the base magnet is properly oriented (Section IV), the top will gently LIFT ITSELF off the lifter plate and float in space when the top is raised to approximately 2? above the surface of the base magnet ? However, your chance of getting the weight and orientation correct on the first try is small. Be sure to raise the lifter plate SLOWLY. If you lift too quickly, the additional upward momentum given to the top will carry it up, out of the magnetic field. You will not be able to determine if the top is too heavy or too light.


STEP 3. Interpret the results of your levitation attempt. First ask yourself, ?Was the top light enough to lift off the plate BY ITSELF as the critical height was approached, or did the top just slide off the side of the plate as I continued lifting?? If the top slid off the side of the plate, then remove some of the weight from the top (for example, you might remove the 3 gram weight and replace it with 2 ?1 gram weights) and go back to step one. If the top ?jumped upward? STRAIGHT UP off the plate, it is too light. Add more weight and try again. By using this trial and error method, eventually you will determine the correct weight within 0.1 gram (the weight of the small, yellow washer). The top will float stably only if its weight lies within a very narrow (+/- 0.1 gram) range of a ?correct weight?. You will find this correct weight by successive trials as described above.

IV. THE ORIENTATION OF THE BASE ?Finally! Let?s orient the magnetic field lines of the base magnet!?

The final step in successful levitation requires that the magnetic field produced by the base magnet be precisely vertical. To achieve this, it is sometimes necessary to lengthen or shorten the screw-adjustable legs supporting the base. Because we cannot see these magnetic field lines, we must determine any adjustments by observing how the top reacts to the base. As you experiment trying to find the correct weight for the top, notice whether the top tends to fall repeatedly to the same side. For example, if each time the top jumps off the lifter plate, it falls in one particular direction, rotate the adjustable legs so that the side the top falls toward is raised (as you would with a camera or telescope tripod). Once you have done this, spin the top and lift again. Each time the procedure is repeated, you must watch the top closely as it leaves the lifter plate to help determine what further adjustments of the legs are needed.

REMEMBER! No matter how well you orient the base magnet, the top will not float stably unless it is carrying the correct amount of weight (Refer to step II). It is important to have the top at or near the correct floating weight FIRST before attempting the final adjustment of the base magnet using the tripod legs.

FINAL NOTE: Once the correct weight for stable levitation has been found, only minor adjustments to that weight will be required for levitation in the future. Most of the weight variations are the result of minor changes in the strength of the magnetic material due to the temperature changes (magnets tend to lose strength as they heat up).