Paper Cup Anemometer for Wind Speed
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How fast is the wind blowing right now? An anemometer (a device that measures wind speed) can answer that question. You can build a simple version from everyday materials.
You cut the rims off four small paper cups and color one cup. Then you staple the cups to the ends of two crossed cardboard strips. A push pin attaches the cross to a pencil eraser so the cups spin freely.
Set the pencil upright in modeling clay outdoors. Count how many times the colored cup passes you in one minute. More spins mean faster wind.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that the anemometer will be able to measure the speed of the wind.
Method & Materials
You will cut off the rolled edges of the paper cups, color one cup with a marking pen, cross the cardboard strips and staple them together, draw lines from the outside corners of the cardboard strips to the opposite corners, staple the cups to the ends of the cardboard strips, push a pin through the center of the cardboard, attach the cardboard cross with the cups on it to the eraser point of the pencil, and stick the sharpened end of the pencil into modeling clay.
You will need scissors, 4 small paper cups, a marking pen, 2 strips of stiff, corrugated cardboard, a ruler, a stapler, a push pin, a sharpened pencil with eraser on the end, modeling clay, and a watch that shows seconds.
Results
After completing the experiment, you will be able to measure the wind speed in revolutions per minute. You can also observe how the wind speed changes at different times of the day and in different locations.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting and unique because it allows you to make your own anemometer and measure the speed of the wind.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include measuring the wind speed in different weather conditions and measuring the wind speed in different locations.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related video
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