Probably not the right subforum, but I feel like this is my best chance for serious answers. The following apparatus is found in a physics lab, but what exactly is it used for? Haven't encountered one before.

I too have failed. Internet has decided these are "physics blades". Will update once I find more information.

Thanks for trying. Seems like nobody knows what this is used for...

What University was it at?

I can solve this once I'm home from work.

Any chance I can get a picture of the other side, and maybe something for scale?

I have an idea but the size and fixture matter.

-e

I am pretty sure it's a wall/floor/desk mount of some kind. The question is what was it for.

-e2

Do the blades spin or are their positions fixed/locked?

This post was edited by Ep0ch on Sep 2 2018 05:51pm

Actually the picture is from a high school lab where my friend teaches at, thus most likely used for demonstrations.
I'll ask him about the size and mobility of the blades and report back here later.

The blades are 60-80cm long and they can all spin independently of each other

I am not sure exactly what this one is called, but I looks like a device used to measure inertia of a given object.

It looks a little different than what I can find, but I think we have it. (I think it may be missing some parts though)

Here is a similar device.

Hmm. Could be, but I still have some doubts.
The blades in my picture are very close to each other, so it's difficult to add any weights on it. Also there really isn't anything you can attach the object with, or adjust the distance. There certainly is similarities to your picture though.

Unless anyone has other suggestions, I guess that would be the best explanation anyway.

unless they are meant to spin in tandem, without crossing blade sections.

-e

I was trying to figure out what those notches on the tops and the pins on the sides were for, the only thing I can come up with is either to lock the blades together, or so attach something to the blade, perhaps a slide?

Let me know if you come up with anything else, I an gonna keep trying to find the same machine on various lab equipment sales sites.

So far I haven't seen it listed anywhere yet, add to that the fact you said it was in a high school, which makes me think it might be old, and not be available for purchase.

This post was edited by Ep0ch on Sep 3 2018 07:13am