Stress Relieving Ellipsoid Spinning Top Physics Marvel and Optics Art by PhiTOP

The PhiTOP Physics Egg is a very interesting toy top the does a cool trick that seems intuitively odd. It seems natural for the "egg" to spin in a plane of the long axis of the "egg". That is, if it is just sitting still and you spin it in that position, it seems natural to expect it to keep spinning in that horizontal orientation. But, NO! If you can get it spinning in that horizontal orientation at a good speed, it will spontaneously tip itself up and spin very smoothly in the upright orientation! COOL!?!Of course it takes a fair amount of practice to get it to spin at a good speed without bumping onto the edge of the mirror base. I find it works best for me to use my thumb and middle finger on my right hand; like snapping my fingers. The instructions describe a different technique that might work better for you. Just keep trying. After a while you will probably get it to work. When you do, it is actually really cool.I bought another, larger convex glass disc, thinking the additional area would make it easier to get it spinning. That works, but the smaller mirror that comes with the PhiTOP has a small edge lip that keeps the PhiTOP on the mirror better, and gives me more successful spins.If you just can't make it work, I guess you can return it, OR, may I suggest that the PhiTOP might make a good gift for some friend or family member! I assure you that its does, in fact, work as described, but I can understand that it may be difficult for some people to do it.

This thing is just wicked cool. It works ... you spin it firmly on its short axis and it hops up to spin on its long axis. Besides that, it is just a pretty little thing, well made and nice to hold and flip around among your fingers. If you like fidget spinners and such, you might also like this although it has no moving parts. I liked the aluminum one so much I also bought the heavier brass version (discontinued) from ebay. I love both.

In theory this would be a great 'fidget' toy, but the concave stand- which is necessary for it to function properly- is just too small.Its extremely difficult to get a good spin without hitting the sides, which of course kills the whole thing. Or for that matter, accidentally flinging it across the room (already have broken one porcleain jar, keep all breakables at least 5 feet away when spinning this!). If they would have just been less chintzy enough to make the stand about 1" wider in diameter it would have made all the difference in the world I think.

I LOVE this thing, and not just because it almost perfectly resembles a UAP I may or may not have seen a few years back...I have to use both hands to make it work -- one-handed would be really tough to pull off, especially with the small mirror. You really need to get it to spin as quickly as possible, but keeping it in place without having it move around.Touch the egg on the end closest to you with your left thumb. Hold it in place my touching the end that is farther from you with your left forefinger (pointer). Have the egg held there like that, left thumb toward closest to you, right forefinger on the opposite side of the egg farthest away. (Reverse if left-handed, maybe?)Now really quickly pull to the left with your left hand and right with your right. The balanced motions will help keep the egg/ellipsoid stay in place, so maximum torque (is that the right physics word to use here?) is applied to getting the egg to spin _in place_.If you get it going fast enough, and keep it still enough... The magic happens! It really will stand up, and get really smooth in the spin, and go for quite a while. It's REALLY NEAT and SATISFYING AF!Don't give up! Don't return it! Have an attentions pan for more than 8 seconds! The internet is eating our minds! Restore sanity with the golden (mean) egg of destiny!

Smaller than expected

It takes a bit more practice to get a good spin than Euler's Disk, but the money you save will be worth the half hour of frustration spent mastering it. And it's more portable, take it and entertain guests as a party trick, then explain to them how it works and watch them beg to give it a try. The challenge in doing so will make it even more popular with guests because they'll want to master it, too!

this is what happens when you buy stuff off impulse and dont thoroughly read the ad. imagine my disappointment when i realized my tiny fingers had to spin this and it didn't just levitate. I guess im going to look up the actual metal value vs the price i paid to make me feel more stoopid for not reading the ads description also i gave myself that one star not this company

It’s a very interesting gadget.I think it should have been less expensive though.