Can anyone tell me the name of this object?

[SirChenjins]

I used to know but I’ve forgotten ☹️

It belonged to my dad, bought in the 80s. The dome is a vacuum and as the sunlight hits it the black and white diamonds they start to spin round - speed depends on the strength of the sun. It’s about 5 or 6 inches high.

Prize for the winning answer!

Is it a radiometer?

Radiometer

What is it for?

That’s it! Thanks so much 😃

I have no idea! He bought it from some gadgety type shop in the 80s - when I was clearing our family home I came across it and kept it because it reminded me of him.

It is lovely @SirChenjins

If I may piggyback a tiny bit - does anyone know the name for this?

Satan? Gosh that's ugly.

My colleague is stuck in Breaking Bad land and I think they’d love one. 🫣

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer

Remember us having one in the science lab at school decades (!!!!!) ago…

That’s officially known as ‘your worst nightmare’!