How to Build a Pendulum Anemometer
A pendulum anemometer is a simple tool for measuring the wind speed. The wind blows on a pendulum, pushing it sideways. By measuring how far the pendulum swings, you can approximate how strong the wind is. This project is suitable for middle school students, but requires adult supervision because it uses sharp objects.
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Things You'll Need
- Pie plate
- Ping-pong ball
- Nails
- Glue
- Tape
- Knife
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
Instructions
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1
Stick a nail through the center of a pie plate so that it sticks out perpendicular to the plate. It should stick out toward the curved side at least 1 inch.
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2
Glue or tape the nail where it enters the pie plate to hold it in place. Put some tape over the tip so that it won't poke anyone.
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3
Poke a hole in a ping-pong ball with a nail, knife or other sharp object. Thread a piece of string through the hole. Anchor it in with a drop of glue.
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4
Tie the string to the nail so that the ping-pong ball hangs right above the rim of the pie tin. Cut off any extra string from the end.
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5
Make a line on the rim with the marker.
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6
Go out in light wind and hold the anemometer so that the black line is straight below the nail. Line up the anemometer so that the ball swings parallel to the pie tin. Make a mark at the furthest point the ball swings to.
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7
Repeat step 6 in medium wind. Then make another mark to show where the ball swings in heavy wind. You now can estimate how heavy the wind is by looking at how far the ball swings.
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