Homely Scientist

Remember my homemade barometer?  Come on I just wrote about it on Monday !  Seriously here’s a little update for you.  First, as you can see, I’ve coloured the water to make it easier to see.  The water level in the tube isn’t accurate.  I quickly opened and closed the top to fill the tube a bit for the picture.

Next … I’ve made two more!  These two are for my daughter’s Grade 4 class (studying meteorology remember) and my son’s daycare.  I have enough tube and bottles to make another one or two if need me (I think Lorraine’s niece might like one for her class … I’m going for the wacky uncle who is always doing strange experiments thing).

Now why am did I make one for my daughter’s class (besides that I’m a geek and I just love this stuff)?  Because one of her teachers mentioned that she was going to make a balloon barometer.  Which will also work.  The air expanding and contracting in relation to atmospheric pressure would make the balloon get bigger and smaller and this could be measured.  But … as we all know balloons lose air over time.  So at some point the device will lose effectiveness because there isn’t enough air to left to make it work.  These, however, will keep working as long as there is water in them.  No, I’m not bragging, it’s just one of those science things.  The balloon will be great for a while, but won’t last more than a week I’d think.  These can be there for the whole year and beyond!

Tags: homemade barometer, experiments at home, waeather fun, weather instruments

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