The Tumbling Rings of Antiquity...On Your Office Desk

Many times around I've wanted to build a Jacob's Ladder but haven't had the time to. When I ran into the Tumbling Rings, I was delighted. And so, here it is. It is an awesome physics toy that is hard to describe. I think you should consult a professional physicist for more thorough info.

UPDATE: IF YOU NEED HELP GOING BACK TO STEP ONE SEE THIS VIDEO.

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Step 1: Get the Parts.

For Demonstrational Purposes: (teachers)

30-100 colored binder rings (make sure the rings are not too small to manipulate but not so large that they touch the ground.)
A LOT OF TIME

For everybody else:

30-100 key rings (binder ring, will work.) (For the magic to work, they shouldn't be colored but it is okay if they are.)

caarntedd says: Jan 23, 2012. 9:48 PM

Made it. Used different coloured rings. Played with it until my arms got sore. Rebuilt it using one colour. Much better. Thanks for sharing. Very cool.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to caarnteddJan 24, 2012. 2:43 PM

Thanks. Check out my video.

creighton.girl says: Nov 27, 2011. 6:20 PM

I've been trying for over an hour to figure this out. Confused about going back to step 1. It works for me until then. How many "single"rings should there be. Should I be adding the rings this way: one through both rings then one through just one ring? Determined to get it! Thanks

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to creighton.girlNov 28, 2011. 2:23 PM

Once you have 5 rings with two on the bottom, two in the middle and one at the top, add two two the bottom, Then, take the first pair of double rings and drop it again, then do the same again.

Making a video very soon.

creighton.girl in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 29, 2011. 7:06 AM

Thanks. I think I get it now. I'm going to try it again from the beginning.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to creighton.girlJan 14, 2012. 8:07 AM

Here : http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tumbling-Rings-of-AntiquityAgain/.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to creighton.girlNov 29, 2011. 10:22 AM

Good luck.

I have ordered key rings.

Hope I can upload the video soon.

ppranavi says: Dec 6, 2011. 4:20 AM

please tell me clearly about that repeating the 1st step..... i m getting till 5 rings correctly after that i m not getting anything......!!! please help me

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to ppranaviDec 6, 2011. 2:06 PM

Okay, once you reach two rings at the bottom, take two more rings and add them to the bottom. Then, hold the ring looped around only ONE of the loop below it and then hold that one and drop the second one. By tomorrow I should have a how it works video.

ppranavi in reply to blinkyblinkyDec 8, 2011. 5:38 PM

thank u 1st lemme try it nd i'll update the result......

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to ppranaviJan 14, 2012. 8:06 AM

Video: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Tumbling-Rings-of-AntiquityAgain/.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to ppranaviDec 8, 2011. 5:47 PM

Good Luck.

clux64 says: Jan 9, 2012. 6:28 PM

Made two sets of strings of 30 binder rings for my kids on Christmas day. Once you start, you just cant stop playing with them! There is kind of a trick in the way you hold it, and some of us in this family get it, and some of us don't--or don't every time. This just adds to the excitement. Not to mention a box of binder rings cost me $10 and I had more than enough to make 3 strings. That's a lot of entertainment for ten bucks.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to clux64Jan 10, 2012. 3:12 AM

Its so fun isn't it. If you want, you can take those three and make a long chain so that the effect will last longer.

monsterlego says: Nov 29, 2011. 2:00 PM

Whats the minimum amount of ring you can use?

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to monsterlegoNov 29, 2011. 2:11 PM

6 rings but, the effect isn't seen with 6 rings.

Most of the time people ask what is the maximum...

30 is a good amount.

monsterlego in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 29, 2011. 2:25 PM

That works, thanks!

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to monsterlegoNov 29, 2011. 2:35 PM

You're welcome?

monsterlego in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 29, 2011. 2:39 PM

Why the "?"

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to monsterlegoNov 29, 2011. 2:56 PM

Because I didn't know what you meant by "That works, thanks!"

monsterlego in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 29, 2011. 3:40 PM

It works obviously.

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to monsterlegoNov 29, 2011. 6:23 PM

Great!

terrapinlogo says: Nov 25, 2011. 5:08 PM

Just finished building one out of 40 key rings and it awesome. I'm sitting here looking at the bag of key rings thinking one made of 300 key rings would be cool

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to terrapinlogoNov 25, 2011. 7:29 PM

Nice! You're the first person who has actually built something I made as an ible.

Thanks.

Where did you buy your key rings?

Problem with 300 key rings is that it will probably touch the ground when you throw it down.(Unless you are Yao Ming or something.)

If it does then it might stop in the middle.

One made of 100 would be nice.

terrapinlogo in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 25, 2011. 7:35 PM

I have absolutely no idea where they are from. Found them in the cupboard in a post bag that I assume they came in and there is no sender.
Just looking at the chain I have now the max length before hitting the ground would be about 100

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to terrapinlogoNov 25, 2011. 7:42 PM

I must be psychic or something... :-)

susanrm says: Nov 23, 2011. 9:48 PM

ThIs is so cool. I can see it as a mathematical puzzler. I like that they're colored because you can see that it's not that the rings are just shifting slightly, they are actually falling down. Great idea!

blinkyblinky (author) in reply to susanrmNov 24, 2011. 8:01 PM

°Its the other way around. To be exact, this is basically two chains linked together and one chain rotates 180° when you let the first ring drop.

susanrm in reply to blinkyblinkyNov 24, 2011. 8:24 PM

When I said "rings," I meant the ring that drops. :-)