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After what seemed like the never-ending summer, autumn has finally arrived. With the significant change in temperature, we decided it would be a great time for building weather instruments. I've mentioned before that we love the Smithsonian Maker Lab books. We particularly love the the Maker Lab Outdoors book, which has a chapter on weather instruments.
After what seemed like the never-ending summer, autumn has finally arrived. With the significant change in temperature, we decided it would be a great time for building weather instruments. I've mentioned before that we love the Smithsonian Maker Lab books. We particularly love the the Maker Lab Outdoors book, which has a chapter on weather instruments.
Our first weather instrument was a barometer made with a jar, a straw and a balloon. We made the barometer just before rain was expected, so we were able to watch the straw move up and down with the change in air pressure. One of my favorite things about the Maker Lab books is that they include easy to understand explanations about why the tools or experiments work. I learned quite a bit about air pressure myself as we worked on our barometer.
Our next weather tool was a thermometer. Unfortunately, I neglected to get a picture of thermometer, but it was a super cool experiment. You simply fill a glass bottle with water colored with food coloring. You then place a straw in the bottle and seal it with modeling clay. We used an eye dropper to then place colored water into the straw and topped it with one drop of vegetable oil.
We placed the glass bottle into a bowl of hot water and at first nothing happened. When we were just about to give up, the water in the straw began to rise. We then placed the bottle into cold water and watched as the water moved down the straw. The Maker Lab book explained how this outcome is caused by the reaction water molecules have to hot and cold. The book then applied this to body temperature when one is sick, which was very relevant in our family this week because Anne has been dealing with strep throat.
I am excited that we have two more weather tools to make. We will be making a rain gauge and an anemometer. I'm going to be honest and say that I have never heard of an anemometer prior to reading this book, but it apparently measures wind speed. I will do my best to get pictures of these experiments up to share with you.
We placed the glass bottle into a bowl of hot water and at first nothing happened. When we were just about to give up, the water in the straw began to rise. We then placed the bottle into cold water and watched as the water moved down the straw. The Maker Lab book explained how this outcome is caused by the reaction water molecules have to hot and cold. The book then applied this to body temperature when one is sick, which was very relevant in our family this week because Anne has been dealing with strep throat.
I am excited that we have two more weather tools to make. We will be making a rain gauge and an anemometer. I'm going to be honest and say that I have never heard of an anemometer prior to reading this book, but it apparently measures wind speed. I will do my best to get pictures of these experiments up to share with you.
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