- Spinning Tops

In addition to being fun to make and play with, Zome spinning tops are an exercise in balance. The main thing to keep in mind when making tops is symmetry. Everything you do to one side must be mirrored on the other side, or the top will lose its balance. This is pretty easy to do; just make sure that the angles of the struts on the balls are exactly the same. I found that tops that are wider compared to their height tend to be more balanced. Also, tops that use the minimum amount of struts for their frame (i.e. no unnecessary bridging struts) spin faster and longer. All of the tops are based on polygonal shapes--most use a square for a base, creating a pyramid shape with the rest of the top.

- Bubbles!

Have you ever seen a cubic bubble? With Zometools balls and struts and a little soapy water, a bubble cube is a cinch to make. A bubble cube can be made by making two identical squares, then connecting them with struts to make a cube. You might want to make a handle out of a longer strut so that you can hold the model without disturbing the bubble. Dip the model into a mixture of soap and water, trying to avoid the bubbles on the surface of the solution. There should be a small, squarish interface in the center of the Zome cube. If not, try gently shaking the model. Using a small straw, dip one end into the soapy solution, then touch that end to the interface in the middle of the cube. Gently blow into the straw. Some scientists use this cubic bubble within a cube as an example of the 4th dimension! If you want to learn more, Bubbleology 101 starts with the Crazy Bubbles Kit from Zometool. See the Zometool Models link to buy the Crazy Bubbles Kit.

- Geometry

Many different shapes can be made using Zometool balls and struts. Geometry was never this fun! Zometool balls and struts can be used to teach geometric shapes. A large number of shapes can be made, from lines to rectangles to cubes.