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General Categories => Geekapalooza => Technical Quandries => Topic started by: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 12:14:57 AM

Title: Science minded folks needed
Post by: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 12:14:57 AM
There is a commercial on TV recently, I have no idea what product it is for, that shows a small wind mill type apparatus under a small glass dome.  The whole setup is only about 5 inches tall and maybe 3 inches in diameter.  It is powered by a scientific effect produced by shining light on 4 flat patches mounted equally apart from one another that are black on one side and white on the other.  The light reflects on the white panel causing it to rotate as a simple machine but instead of turning like a windmill facing forward, it is like a windmill facing upward.

What is the machine called and what is the effect named? I thought it was the Karkovsky effect but I can find no such concept.  Instead, I find something called a Yarkovsky effect but am not sure if this is the right thing because I'm not finding any pictures of this simple machine.

Can anyone help?  Catchr, you're a science dude, did any of this drift across your educational background?
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: BigDun on November 27, 2008, 12:19:44 AM
It's called a Radiometer. I had dozens of those as a kid. They were fun to watch in the afternoon sunlight. They are also called a Crookes Radiometer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer)
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: eo000 on November 27, 2008, 01:32:23 AM
long haired freaky people need not apply.
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 02:40:12 AM
Quote from: eo000 on November 27, 2008, 01:32:23 AM
long haired freaky people need not apply.

That was the first song of their's I liked, now I hate that song and love many others.  Edison's Medicine is really cool.
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 02:40:33 AM
Quote from: BigDun on November 27, 2008, 12:19:44 AM
It's called a Radiometer. I had dozens of those as a kid. They were fun to watch in the afternoon sunlight. They are also called a Crookes Radiometer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer)

Thank you.  That's exactly what I was trying to find.
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: Beefy on November 27, 2008, 12:50:40 PM
Quote from: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 02:40:12 AM
Quote from: eo000 on November 27, 2008, 01:32:23 AM
long haired freaky people need not apply.

That was the first song of their's I liked, now I hate that song and love many others.  Edison's Medicine is really cool.

Tesla was actually just doing a cover.  The song is from 1971, I learned later.
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 11:59:22 PM
Quote from: Beefy on November 27, 2008, 12:50:40 PM
Quote from: VikingJuice on November 27, 2008, 02:40:12 AM
Quote from: eo000 on November 27, 2008, 01:32:23 AM
long haired freaky people need not apply.

That was the first song of their's I liked, now I hate that song and love many others.  Edison's Medicine is really cool.

Tesla was actually just doing a cover.  The song is from 1971, I learned later.

I know.  The original is much less annoying than the Tesla cover.  My dad of all people let me in on the original's existence when he heard me listening to the updated version back in school.
Title: Re: Science minded folks needed
Post by: Dry then Catch on December 01, 2008, 12:33:58 PM
hey i just got here what i miss.


i don't knwo anything, im a technical bureaucrat