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Weekend


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December 20, 2002

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.
    • By BILL SONES and RICH SONES, Ph.D.
    Special to the Journal

    Q. Kite tails, spinning top vectors, superball bounceback, frisbee aerodynamic lift.... Do the merry elves at Santa's Little Workshop know their classic toy science? We went North to find out.

    A. Upon arrival, we were led first to the toy tops laboratory, where our elfin guide -- chief technical advisor to Mr. Claus -- showed us samples being spun, to measure their "rotational momentum." "That's the invisible force acting to keep the top upright," she said with a bob of her head and cap, "just like with a gyroscope or the rotating earth.


     
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