Re: radiometer paradox

[Doug Craigen <dcc@cyberspc.mb.ca>]

On Sat, 14 Jun 1997 Namkcihp@AOL.COM wrote:

> You can even make the radiometer go "backwards!"
> Try placing a damp paper towel on the top of the radiometer.
> This might help explain what is *really* happening!

A few years ago I had somebody point out to me that after the light was
turned off his radiometer, didn't just slow to a stop, it stopped and then
"rewound" a couple of times.  I tried it and sure enough he was right.
The best I could come up with was that just as the black side gets hotter
under the light, it must cool faster when the light is turned off.  So
there will be a time period where the white side is the hotter.  If the
vanes have come to a stop while the white side is significantly hotter, it
will turn in reverse for a while.

|++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|
| Doug Craigen                                                 |
|                                                              |
| Is there too much spam in your email?                        |
|    http://cyberspc.mb.ca/~dcc/spam.shtml                     |
|++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++|