{"id":1540,"date":"2021-06-18T01:45:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T08:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simivalleydaycamp.com\/?p=1540"},"modified":"2025-10-06T13:55:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T20:55:11","slug":"anemometer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simivalleydaycamp.com\/index.php\/2021\/06\/18\/anemometer\/","title":{"rendered":"Anemometer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientists use many different types of instruments to measure many different things. Scales for measuring weight and thermometers for temperature are two examples you’ve seen before.\u00a0 Scientists who study things like the environment, the oceans, and the weather use an instrument called an anemometer that measures the speed of the wind.<\/p>\n

For this activity, you need:
\n5 small paper cups
\n2 straws
\nA new pencil
\nA bag of air dry clay
\nA sewing pin or push pin
\nTape
\nSharpie or markers
\nA good pair of scissors<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. On one of your cups, draw four dots just below the rim of the cup.\u00a0 These dots should be evenly spaced so they are on opposite sides of the cup from each other.\u00a0 Draw another dot in the middle of the bottom of the cup.<\/li>\n
  2. Using your sharp scissors, carefully punch holes where your dots are. \"\"<\/li>\n
  3. Thread one of the straws through a pair of upper holes.\u00a0 Thread the other straw through the other pair.
    \n\"\"<\/li>\n
  4. Thread a cup on to the end of each straw. Use pieces of tape to secure the straw in place so the cup can’t slide back off.\u00a0 As you work, make sure the cups are all facing in the same direction. Think of all the horses facing forward as a merry-go-round spins.
    \n\"\" \"\"<\/li>\n
  5. Slide your pencil up through the hole in the center of your middle cup.\u00a0 Carefully push your pin through the two straws and then into the eraser of the pencil.\"\"<\/li>\n
  6. Next, make a stand for your anemometer.\u00a0 Mold the air dry clay around the base of the pencil.\u00a0 You are hoping for a wide base with a tall section around the pencil.\u00a0 Once you have a shape you like, wiggle the pencil around a bit to make the hole a little wider.\u00a0 While gently turning the pencil, pull the pencil back out and set your stand aside to dry.\u00a0 This can take several days.
    \n\"\"
    \nNote: Once the clay dries, the pencil should be able to spin freely in the stand.
    \nIf you find your air dry clay stand is too short or too light, you can also use an empty water bottle.\u00a0 Partly fill the bottle with sand or pebbles to add some weight.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can use your anemometer to tell how fast the wind is blowing!\u00a0 How?<\/p>\n