Make an anemometer Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments: Comments 0 You will need: 4 plastic cups (we used 30mL biodegradable cups) A sharp pencil Two cardboard strips (at least 20 x 3cm each) Stapler A boxcutter & adult help Thumbtack (optional) Written by Fizzics Education. Reviewed by Ben Newsome CF. Cite this experiment Copyright Notice Instruction 1 Form the two cardboard strips into a cross. Use at least two staples to join them together. Optional: You can use the thumbtack to make a small hole through the middle of the cardboard strips. 2 Use the stapler to attach a plastic cup on the end of each strip of cardboard. 3 Make sure that the plastic cups are all facing the same way. 4 Push the pencil into the centre of the cardboard cross. 5 Take the anemometer out into a breeze and see if it spins! Extra tip: Colour one of the cups so that you can count it every time it passes in front of you. 6 School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.– Designed by experienced educators.– Over 2 million students reached.– Face to face incursions & online programs available.– Early learning centre visits too! 7 Online courses for teachers & parents – Help students learn how science really works 8 Get the Unit of Work on Pressure here! Want to dive into air pressure? It’s all about air pressure in many ways! From how storms form to how planes fly, this unit covers many concepts about air pressure. Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more What is going on? Measuring Wind with an Anemometer The principle is simple: the stronger the wind, the faster your anemometer moves! As the wind hits the open side of the cups, it creates a pressure difference that generates the torque (spinning force) needed to turn the arms. Design Challenges In this specific DIY design, the friction between the pencil and the cardboard strips acts as a mechanical “brake”, preventing the anemometer from spinning as fast as the actual wind speed. Because of this resistance, the cups must overcome static friction before they even begin to move. Can you design a better version with a smoother bearing? Share your ideas below! Variables to investigate Find out more on variables here. Friction Reduction Can you reduce the friction between the pencil and the cardboard? Perhaps using a bead or a smoother pin? Surface Area What happens if you increase the cup size? Does a larger “catch” area make it more sensitive to light breezes? Arm Length Does making the cardboard arms longer increase or decrease the rotations per minute in the same wind? Measure the wind speed Measure the radius: Measure the length of one cardboard arm that holds a cup. This is the radius of the circle that the cups travel around. Calculate Circumference: Work out the distance the cups travel in one full rotation using the formula below: Circumference = 2 x 3.14 x radius Count RPM: Count the number of revolutions in one minute (rpm). Calculate Speed: Substitute your answers into the formula below to work out the wind speed: Wind speed (km/hr) = (rpm x circumference x 60 minutes) / 1000 metres Worked example If an anemometer spins 90 times in 1 minute, and it has a measured circumference of 1 metre… Wind speed = (90 rpm x 1 metre x 60 minutes) / 1000 metres = 5.4 km per hour Measuring without an anemometer The Beaufort scale is a way that you can roughly work out the wind speed based on what you can see happening in the environment around you, such as smoke drifting or trees swaying. ✅ Reviewed: April 5, 2026 APA 7 Citation: Fizzics Education. (2021). Make an anemometer. https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/150-science-experiments/weather-activities/make-an-anemometer/ Copy APA Citation Reviewer This resource was last reviewed for scientific accuracy on April 5, 2026. Ben Newsome CF is the recipient of the 2023 UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and a Churchill Fellow. He is a global leader in science communication and the founder of Fizzics Education. Learn more! It’s all about pressure! Teaching about air pressure? Check out the Flight or Weather show! Teaching about Newton’s laws? Check out the Forces, Friction & Movement workshop! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class. Flight or Weather Years 3 to 6 Maximum 30 students School science show (NSW & VIC) 60 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now Forces, Friction & Movement Years K to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now Sale! Weather Science Mini Observatory by Green Science | 4M $27.50 Original price was: $27.50.$19.95Current price is: $19.95. excl. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Form the two cardboard strips into a cross. Use at least two staples to join them together. Optional: You can use the thumbtack to make a small hole through the middle of the cardboard strips.
Take the anemometer out into a breeze and see if it spins! Extra tip: Colour one of the cups so that you can count it every time it passes in front of you.
School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.– Designed by experienced educators.– Over 2 million students reached.– Face to face incursions & online programs available.– Early learning centre visits too!
– Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.– Designed by experienced educators.– Over 2 million students reached.– Face to face incursions & online programs available.– Early learning centre visits too!
Get the Unit of Work on Pressure here! Want to dive into air pressure? It’s all about air pressure in many ways! From how storms form to how planes fly, this unit covers many concepts about air pressure. Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more
It’s all about pressure! Teaching about air pressure? Check out the Flight or Weather show! Teaching about Newton’s laws? Check out the Forces, Friction & Movement workshop! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Flight or Weather Years 3 to 6 Maximum 30 students School science show (NSW & VIC) 60 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
Forces, Friction & Movement Years K to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
Sale! Weather Science Mini Observatory by Green Science | 4M $27.50 Original price was: $27.50.$19.95Current price is: $19.95. excl. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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