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How to Make an Anemometer Weather Instrument

An anemometer is a meteorological instrument used to measure surface wind speed. Determining wind speed is vital because it can give an idea about what direction weather systems are heading and alert people to potential risks, such as hurricanes. On its own, an anemometer is quite useful, but when teamed with other elements of a weather station, it can be an essential instrument for predicting the weather.

Things You'll Need

5 paper cups
Hole punch
Scissors
2 plastic straws
Sticky tape
Pencil
Thumbtack
Permanent marker

Instructions

- 1
  Punch a single hole in the side of four paper cups, 1 inch below the rim. Make the central hub by punching two sets of holes on opposite sides of the remaining paper cup. Make sure each set of holes lines up. The first two holes should be 1/4 inch below the rim and the second set 1 inch below the rim.
- 2
  Make a hole with scissors in the bottom of the paper cup (the central hub) that has four holes in it. The hole should be large enough for a pencil to fit through snugly.
- 3
  Run a straw through two holes opposite each other in the central hub. Slide one end of the straw into the hole in one cup and the other end into a second cup. Repeat with the other straw, so that all four cups are attached and facing the same direction around the hub.
- 4
  Bend the end of the straw inside each cup and secure it with sticky tape.
- 5
  Place a pencil with a fresh eraser into the bottom of the central hub and secure to the center of the straws with a thumbtack in the eraser.
- 6
  Make an X with a marker on the bottom of one of the cups.
- 7
  Hold the anemometer up and let the cups spin. Count how many times the X-marked cup passes a point in 10 seconds. Three rotations in 10 seconds means a 1 mile per hour wind speed. For every extra three rotations during the 10 second period, add 1 mph to the wind speed.

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