Can a balloon stretched over a coffee can predict the weather? Air pushes down on everything around us. When that air pressure (the weight of the atmosphere) changes, weather changes too.
You cut a piece of balloon and stretch it tight over an empty coffee can. A straw glued to the balloon acts as a pointer. When air pressure rises, it pushes the balloon down and the pointer tips up.
Take daily readings for a week and note the weather each time. You may spot a pattern between the pointer's position and sunny or rainy days.
Air pushes down on everything around us — and when that push changes, the weather changes too. Stretch a balloon tight over an empty coffee can and glue a straw to it as a pointer. When air pressure rises, it pushes the balloon down and tips the straw up, turning a coffee can into a working barometer.
A balloon stretched tight over a coffee can can actually predict the weather. Air pushes down on everything around us, and when that air pressure changes, the weather changes too. A straw glued to the balloon acts as a pointer — when air pressure rises, it pushes the balloon down and the pointer tips up. Take daily readings for a week, note the weather each time, and you may spot a pattern between the pointer's position and sunny or rainy days.
A barometer turns air pressure changes into visible movement. When air pressure rises, it pushes the balloon down and the pointer tips up. You take daily readings for a week and note the weather each time, looking for a pattern between the pointer's position and sunny or rainy days.
Method & Materials
You will make a barometer out of a coffee can, balloon, rubber band, pin, glue, straw, and paper.
You will need an empty coffee can, a large balloon, a large rubber band, a pin, glue, a straw, and paper.
After making the barometer and taking several daily readings for a week, it was observed that the readings of the barometer outside were different than those of a barometer inside.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting and unique because it allows students to make their own barometer and use it to measure air pressure and predict the weather.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include measuring air pressure in different locations and at different times of day.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
