|
|
| You will need: (per student or group) |
 Anna Mometer |
| 1 transparent straw | |
| 2 straight pens | |
| Some tape | |
| Dark colored construction paper (for contrast and to mark calibrations on) | 
|
| Small amount of modeling clay | |
| Scissors | |
| Styrofoam tray (the kind you get at a grocery store) |
| Directions: |  |
| 1. Cut the tray, if necessary, so it is about 4" x 8". | |
| 2. Glue the dark-colored construction paper to the bottom side Styrofoam tray. | |
| 3. Plug one end of the straw with modeling clay. | |
| 4. Cut a small notch about 2" from the plugged end of the straw. | |
| 5. Attach the straw to the papered-side of the Styrofoam by pushing a straight pin trough the straw slightly above the notch. |
 |
| 6. Cut a very small piece of Styrofoam and insert it into the straw. |
|
| 7. Push a straight pin through the straw near the top of the straw and Styrofoam. | |
| 8. Be sure that the small piece of Styrofoam will rise in the tube when air is blown into the straw. If it is too large cut it a bit smaller. If it is too small, it might fall through the notched opening. If that happens cut another piece from the corner of the tray. |  |
| 9. It is a good idea to cut several small pieces of Styrofoam, tape them together, and have the straight pins go into them on the back of the anemometer. This will secure the straight pen better and make you less likely to stick yourself with the pin. | |
| 10. You are now ready to calibrate your anemometer. |
| Calibration: | 
|
| Discuss with the students different methods that could be used to calibrate the anemometer. | |
| Checking the wind speed for a day and simply recording the height that the small piece of Styrofoam reaches is not recommended. Wind speed is not consistent throughout the day. However, the students can discuss why this is, or is not a good option. | |
| Someone could drive a car maintaining a specific speed, and another person could hold the anemometer out the window. (Of course you wouldn't do this on an open highway.) Have the students discuss this option. They should understand that the same problem of inconsistent wind speeds throughout the day could influence this too. |  |
| Well, I guess the only sure way to calibrate the anemometer is in a wind tunnel. This would be an opportunity to discuss controlling variables. |
| Graphing: (If you decide to graph wind speed, here are some options.) | |
| Use your anemometer and record the height that the Styrofoam piece indicates. This can be used to show the changes of wind speed throughout the day. |
 |
| Connect to a weather site record the wind speeds over a period of time. Graph and compare these. |
 |
| Hurricanes offer an excellent time to study the relationship between barometric pressure and the wind speeds of the hurricane and storm surge. Graph this data and discuss direct and inverse relationships. How do graphs indicate this? | |
|
|
|
|