The cup anemometer is a scientific instrument used to measure wind speed. It consists of three or four cups that catch and measure the wind. It cannot measure wind direction, but newer versions use different cup shapes to determine wind direction. The cup anemometer was invented by Irish scientist John Thomas Romney Robinson in the 19th century and is still used today. It is a standard feature in most modern weather stations and can be easily built or purchased for home use. An improvised anemometer can be made from paper cups.
A cup anemometer is a scientific instrument used to measure wind speed. This device gets its name from the cups used to catch and measure the wind. They can measure wind speed quite accurately, but most versions cannot measure wind direction. They are standard features in most modern weather stations, and simple versions can easily be built or purchased for use in home weather stations.
Irish scientist, John Thomas Romney Robinson invented the cup anemometer in the 19th century. The British were very interested in meteorological research, as this information was used by the Royal Navy as well as the scientific community. Britain moved quickly to establish a regular network of weather stations and included cup anemometers to measure wind speed.
This scientific instrument has changed little since its early days. The construction of a cup anemometer is simple. Three or four cups, typically made of metal or sturdy plastic, are spaced symmetrically at the ends of the arms, which are attached to a central pivot point. Each cup is positioned so that its hollow interior is parallel to the length of the support arm. Such a configuration ensures that the cups catch the wind from any direction.
Wind rotates the cups in an anemometer, and stronger winds rotate the instrument faster. The specific relationship between wind speed and cup rotation speed varies according to the particular specifications of a given instrument. A standard cup anemometer cannot determine wind direction and is usually paired with a second instrument, which may be as simple as a wind vane, to make this measurement. Newer versions of the cup anemometer employ cups with different shapes and may use the different drag on different cups to determine which way the wind is blowing, but most still use the older design.
A rotating cup anemometer can accurately measure winds up to at least 60 miles per hour (about 100 kilometers per hour). Faster winds, however, reduce the accuracy of wind speed readings modestly. Extremely powerful winds can damage a cup anemometer, but modern models can survive even most hurricane conditions and still produce useful data.
Residential anemometers are widely available for purchase, but enterprising aspiring meteorologists can build these instruments as well. An improvised anemometer can be made from paper cups. A small mounted wheel can serve as the basis for a paper cup anemometer. The paper cups can then be mounted to the wheel with dowels or other lightweight materials that come in handy. Such an instrument is surprisingly accurate at measuring wind speed, but is best kept away from hurricane-force winds.
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