This DECORATIVE SOLAR RADIOMETER is sure to impress and will make a great gift for science lovers, demonstrate the conversion of radiation energy into kinetic energy. Place the radiometer in a sunny spot and watch thermodynamics in action, once it soaks up some rays it becomes a real solar engine, the stronger the light, the faster it will spin
These CURIOUS AND MESMERISING instruments measure the power of electromagnetic radiation. Made from a glass bulb with much of the air removed to form a partial vacuum, inside is a set of fine metal vanes, each with one dark and one light side, mounted on a spindle.
The vanes rotate, as if by magic, when exposed to sunlight, artificial light, or infrared radiation (even the heat of a hand nearby can be enough) the more intense the light, the faster the rotation.
The radiometer stands 15cm | 6 inches high the glass ball has a diameter of 8cm | 3.1 inches, carefully made of high borosilicate glass, clear to see what happening inside, the base and stem are blue coloured.
Solar radiometers are also known as LIGHT MILLS because light moves their blades as opposed to wind for windmills. Invented by the chemist Sir William Crookes as the by-product of some chemical research is more of a beautiful science gizmo than a means of accurate measurement.