Radiometer

Description

Any of several instruments used to measure the intensity of radiant energy. A crooks radiometer consists of a partially evacuated glass bulb that contains a small rotating vanes on an axis. One side of each vane is a black, strongly absorbing surface while the other side is a metallic reflective surface. Placing the instrument in a beam of infrared radiation (solar light) results in a differential heating pattern which causes the vane to rotate about the axis. The speed of rotation is proportional the the intensity of radiation.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Radiometer, Strahlungsmessgerät (Deut.); radiomètre (Fr.);