Make a Weather Station: Wind Vane
Materials:
- 1 broom stick
- 1 foot long wooden block that is 1 inch in width and height
- 2 aluminum baking dishes
- 1 saw
- Ruler
- Pencil or pen
- Glue (try getting super glue)
- 1 metal washer (hole should be a bit larger than your nail)
- 1 nail
- Hammer
- Drill
Instructions:
1. Have an adult help you with this project. First, cut your aluminum dishes into two shapes. One should be shaped like an arrow or triangle, about three inches on all sides. The other should be shaped like an isosceles trapezoid, about 6 and a half inches on the longer ends. You can trace out the shapes with your ruler and pencil or pen before you cut them out.
2. Using your ruler, measure the two flat ends of the wooden block. Mark each end on the half inch mark (if the block is an inch in width and height) or in the middle mark as shown by your ruler. Do this for both ends, making sure the marked lines are parallel to each other.
3. Take your saw and cut grooves (about ½ an inch deep) into the wooden block where you made your markings.
4. Attach the aluminum shapes with glue into these grooves. You will have an arrow like structure with the aluminum shapes acting as head and tail and the wooden block as the body of the arrow.
5. Match your nail to your drill bits, and find a drill bit that is slightly larger than your nail.
6. Drill a hole into the middle of the wooden block. Make sure the wooden block's arrow is in an upright position. You don't want the hole to be on the sides where the arrow's orientation is lying down.
7. Next, cut the tip off the broom using the saw so that you have a flat end on your broom.
8. Put the washer on the this flat end of the broomstick then place the wooden block in upright position on top. The holes of the washer and wooden block should be aligned.
9. Use a hammer to push a nail through these two holes. The nail is hammered into the broomstick. Since the hole on the wooden block is bigger, it should be able to move freely around the nail, allowing a rotating movement for the arrow.
10. Place your wind vane in a high place where it can catch the wind.
Your wind vane swivels around the nail and points in the direction from which the wind is blowing. If wind is coming from the east, your wind vane will swivel and the arrow will point towards the east. If your wind vane is in a very high place, use a compass to help you see where the wind is coming from.
Next Article: Make a Weather Station: Anenometer
