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>I can stop my plastic-bladed box fan by flicking my pinky finger between the blades and it doesn't even leave a bruise.

I might be misreading this. Are you saying you can stop a running box fan, powered on, force being applied to the impeller by the electric motor, with your pinky?



With a plastic blade? Yah, you can. The plastic is very light and has very little momentum behind it, despite the speed.

I calculated that a 20" box, 1000rpm fan blade moves at around 50 mph. Those large ones might hit pretty hard but will not cause serious injury.

I think he's talking about a small 8 inch desktop model, going maybe 500rpm - that's only 7mph.


Easily. It's a bit painful but does no damage. And once the blade stops the motor gives almost no torque.




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