Anemometer
Create an anemometer out of paper cups and learn about windspeed.
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe virtual outreach to youth.
Be careful while using the push pin.
What To Do
- Take one paper cup and carefully poke four holes under the rim of the cup using a pencil. Make sure the holes are equally spaced along the rim of the cup.
- Carefully push your pencil through each hole to make them bigger.
- Take a straw and put it through two holes that are opposite each other on the cup.
- Take the second straw and put it through the two holes opposite each other that are left on the cup. The two straws should make an X (see guide).
- Take a second paper cup and carefully poke two holes in the middle of the cup beside each other that are 1-2 cm apart (see guide). Make the hole bigger by pushing your pencil through the hole.
- Repeat with the other three cups.
- Thread the paper cups that have two holes onto the straws. Make sure all the cups that are threaded onto straws are facing the same direction (see guide).
- Poke a hole in the centre of the bottom of the middle cup using a pencil. Take the eraser end of the pencil and put it through the hole.
- Push down and gently squish the middle of the X to flatten the straws where they meet.
- Carefully take the push pin and pin it through the X (where the straws meet) and into the eraser end of the pencil. Your anemometer is now done!
Test your anemometer by going outside if it's windy or by turning on a fan and putting the anemometer in front of it.
Discovery
Anemometers are a tool used to measure windspeed! Wind will blow into the cups and cause it to turn. The stronger the wind, the faster all the cups will turn. We use the speed of cups spinning to determine the windspeed. Anemometers are sued at weather stations and airports so that we can get information on windspeed.
Guide:
What's Happening?
Anemometers are a tool used to measure windspeed! Wind will blow into the cups and cause it to turn. The stronger the wind, the faster all the cups will turn. We use the speed of cups spinning to determine the windspeed. Anemometers are sued at weather stations and airports so that we can get information on windspeed.