Take a simple wooden spinning top, manually set it spinning say in a clockwise direction (viewed from above).

As the top slows it becomes more wobbly.  Eventually to the point where one edge of the top touches the surface it's spinning on.  Then as if by magic (to me at any rate) it comes to halt spinning in the opposite direction (completely on it's outer edge).

How can all of this rotation energy suddenly change direction?

Thanks.

Mal

Royston, Herts.