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SIMPLE ANEMOMETER AND WIND
VANE
1. Introduction
We can make an inexpensive anemometer and a
wind vane using daily items. They show
the principle of metrological equipments very clearly.
2. Materials and Tools
Anemometer: 5mm diameter plastic straws,
bamboo sticks, tops of plastic bottles and copper wire or string.
Wind vane: 5mm diameter plastic straws, a
soft plastic cup, bamboo sticks and some paper clips.
Tools: a
good pair of scissors, a compass needle.
3. Anemometer
parts
Cut out
the following pieces of straws from 5mm diameter plastic straws. Red lines are representing slits.
1) Four 163mm (15+63+70+15) straws.
2) Four 130mm (20+90+20) straws.
3) One 30mm straw (central axis of the frame).
3-a. How
to assemble the straws
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Fold a 163mm straw like drawing above and
insert 15mm ends into 30mm central axis.
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Connect other three 163mm straws to the
central axis to make four orthogonal right angle triangles.
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Connect
140mm straws to finish the frame of the anemometer. (The frame is upside
down)
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3-b. Final assembly of the anemometer
Make
four holes on each plastic bottle top and fix it to the frame using bamboo
sticks and copper wire.
Insert
bamboo stick into the central axis straw then the stick should be connected to
a stable heavy base.
4. How to make an improvised wind vane
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Make
four holes on a soft plastic cup like the picture above
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Insert
a bamboo stick from the bottom hole to the upper hole.
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Insert
another bamboo stick through the other holes.
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Make
a horseshoe shape straw piece. The
vertical part is as long as the diameter of the cup bottom.
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Insert
the bamboo sticks into the horse shoe shape straw.
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Push
the straw up to the bottom of the cup.
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Make
an L shape straw. The short arm of the straw has a short slit.
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Insert
a bamboo stick into the short arm of the straw.
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Make
an L shape straw. Then tear long arm
of the straw longitudinally. We call
it an inverted Y shape straw.
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Insert
the other bamboo stick into the short arm of the Y shape straw.
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Make
torn legs overstride the L shape straw bamboo
stick.
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Insert
the torn legs into the long arms of the L shape straw
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Make
short slit on the short arm of the Y shape straw and insert it into upper
arm of horseshoe straw.
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Cut
two straws like the picture above.
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Insert
bamboo sticks into the straws.
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Cut
one more straws.
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Connect
two bamboo sticks using the last straw.
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Check the balance of the wind vane.
If its wind side is lighter, add counterweight (paper clip).
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Insert a bamboo stick in the axis bearing straw.
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Make a base (similar to the anemometer frame) and install the wind
vane.
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