Homemade weather instruments are interesting tools for learning more about the weather.
Simple homemade weather instruments provide a quick project that often give surprisingly accurate weather readings. These readings are sometimes used for fun and enjoyment, but are also quite useful for everyday, practical purposes.
These homemade weather instruments are made from items that you might already have around the house. Other items are easy to find at a local store.
Local weather forecasts can help you to understand your own weather data. You may want to pay attention to the weather announcer's comments as you get to know your instruments, to help with your own forecasting.
Instructions
Barometer
1. Clean the bottle and jar. Remove any labels.
2. Turn the bottle upside down and set it inside the jar. Make sure the neck of the bottle doesn't touch the bottom of the jar. Fill the jar with enough water to cover the mouth of the bottle and to rise about 1 inch up on its neck.
3. Add food coloring to the water. Tip the bottle enough to let the water rise into the mouth, until it's at an even level to the water in the jar. Place the rubber band around the jar, even with the water level.
4. Place your barometer out of the sun, and read it according to the rubber band. High pressure drops the water level in the jar beneath the rubber band, and low pressure brings the water level above it. Change the level of the rubber band to the level of the water each day to read daily changes.
Hygrometer
5. Attach the two thermometers to a board using the double-sided mounting tape. Wet the shoelace and carefully tie it to the bottom of one of the thermometers, around the bulb.
6. Prop the board where you want to keep it, or hang it somewhere near a shelf for the bowl to sit on. Be sure it is out of the sun for a more accurate reading.
7. Fill the bowl with water. Place it near the base of the thermometer with the shoelace tied around it, and put the loose end of the shoelace into the bowl.
8. Read the temperature on each thermometer, each of which is likely to be different. Determine the percentage of humidity in the air by using a wet/dry humidity table (one is provided in the references section, through the "A Homemade Hygrometer" link).
Tags: rubber band, water level, enough water, level water, water Place, weather instruments