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Explain why a spinning top will not remain in motion forever

User David Urry
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2 Answers

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A spinning top would spin forever if there were no other forces acting upon it (like friction) but since there is friction it slows down.  When it spins around, the tip creates friction with the surface it is spinning on, and the rest of the top has friction with the air as it rotates around.  This friction decreases the force, which decreases the velocity, which slows it down to nothing.
User Willium
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All I know is that its the air around the top I don't remember the rest honestly
User Marc Lincoln
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