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Anemometer Facts & Worksheets

An anemometer is a device used to calculate any type of current gas or to measure wind speed, which is a common weather station instrument. 

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Meteorology is the scientific discipline that studies atmospheric predictions. Calculating wind speed is the primary task of meteorology. An anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed.

See the fact file below for more information about the Anemometer, or you can download our 26-page worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Facts

WHAT IS AN ANEMOMETER?

  • An anemometer is a device used to calculate any type of current gas or to measure wind speed, which is a common weather station instrument. 
  • The name comes from the Greek word anemos, which means wind. In 1450, Italian artist and architect Leon Battista Alberti was the first to explain it.
  • He employed a mechanical anemometer, positioned perpendicular to the direction of the wind, such that the disc’s angle of inclination indicated the wind velocity.
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INVENTORS

  • Since its invention in the fifteenth century, the anemometer has seen minimal modification. 
  • The pressure plate anemometer, which measures wind speed, was created in 1450 by Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472) of Genoa, Italy. Similar to Da Vinci’s design, it was made out of a flat plate that was suspended from the top and deflected by the wind against a scale that was calibrated to show wind speed.
  • The tube anemometer, an open-ended horizontal tube or head that is fixed to a wind vane so that it always faces the wind, was created in 1892 by London, England’s William Henry Dines. Pipes link the tube to a water-filled chamber with a float that moves in reaction to the pressure of the wind on the head.
  • Dr. John Thomas Romney Robinson created the four-cup velocity anemometer at Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland in 1845. In order to quantify both direction and speed, Canadian John Patterson changed it to three cups in 1926, and Australian Derek Weston did the same in 1991.

TYPES OF ANEMOMETERS

  • CUP ANEMOMETER. It is composed of four hemispherical cups that are positioned at equal angles on a vertical shaft on one end of the horizontal arms. The way the cups are positioned allows air to flow through them horizontally, causing the cups to rotate in a manner proportional to the wind speed.
  • HOTWIRE ANEMOMETER. This is made up of tiny wire that has been heated to a temperature that is marginally higher than the ambient temperature. As air passes over the wire, it cools.
  • WINDMILL ANEMOMETER. This mechanical device, which measures wind speed, is comparable to a standard windmill. It is made up of an axis of rotation that runs parallel to the wind direction. Because the wind’s direction varies, it also contains an aerovane to help the axis shift course.
  • LASER DOPPLER ANENOMETER. It uses a light beam that is further divided into two beams. When one of the two beams is forced into the anemometer, the amount of light reflected off the moving air particles is calculated to determine the velocity. These are used in both river hydrology and advanced jet engines.
  • SONIC ANEMOMETER. The wind speed is determined using sound waves. The transducer is designed to allow these waves to travel through it. These are used in scientific wind turbines and airplanes.

WIND SPEED

  • The wind’s velocity is commonly used to express wind speed. It is defined in meteorology as the movement of air due to temperature changes from high pressure to low pressure in the atmosphere.
  • Wind speed can be expressed as an instantaneous speed or as an average over a given period of time, like miles per hour. 
  • The SI unit for velocity, the unit recommended by the World Meteorological Organization for indicating wind speeds, is meters per second (m/s) and is the standard unit for wind speed. In Nordic nations, it is also utilized in weather forecasts.
  • When approaching runways, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommends meters per second present wind speed rather than kilometers per hour (km/h).
  • Wind speed is measured in feet per minute (FPM) by anemometers. The signal is converted to an FPM measurement by a magnetic or optical sensor that detects the wind’s rotation. Wind speed is also reported in different quantities, such as miles per hour (MPH), kilometers per hour (kph), meters per second (m/s) in SI units, or knots.

USE OF ANEMOMETERS

  • METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. One of the most crucial instruments in meteorology for determining wind direction and speed is an anemometer.
  • AEROSPACE. In order to guarantee safe takeoff, landing, and flight, anemometers are used in aerospace to track wind direction and speed on an aircraft’s surface. 
  • CONSTRUCTION. Anemometers is used in construction to measure the wind around a building in order to calculate the building’s wind resistance and structural design. 
  • ENVIRONMENT MONITORING. When monitoring the environment, anemometers can be used to measure wind speed and evaluate the distribution and dispersion of air contaminants.
  • SPORTS ACTIVITIES. For certain outdoor sports like sailing, paragliding, and kite surfing, wind speed is a crucial consideration. Athletes and coaches can make better decisions and modify their tactics by using an anemometer to evaluate the current wind conditions.
  • POWER ENGINEERING. Anemometers are crucial instruments, particularly for wind and solar power projects. In order to identify the best way to produce energy, they are used to assess and track the strength of solar and wind radiation.

WORKING PRINCIPLE AND FUNCTION OF ANEMOMETER

  • In meteorology, environmental protection, aviation, and other domains, an anemometer is a type of device that measures
    wind speed.
  • The fundamental idea behind an anemometer is to measure the force of wind on an object in order to infer the wind speed. A wind blade that is perpendicular to the direction of the wind makes up the most basic mechanical anemometer.
  • A force proportionate to the wind speed is applied to the wind blade when it blows across it, causing the blade to revolve.
  • Either directly or via a conversion device, the wind blade’s rotational speed can be translated into a wind speed readout.
  • The ability of anemometers to track variations in wind speed in real time is extremely valuable for meteorological, aviation, and environmental protection applications.
  • Additionally, some high-end anemometers contain an alarm feature that allows the device to automatically sound an alert when the wind speed rises or falls below a predetermined threshold, allowing the user to take prompt action. To prevent excessive energy use and equipment damage, wind turbines at wind farms, for instance, are automatically turned off when the wind speed drops below a predetermined threshold.

Anemometer Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Anemometer across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Anemometer. Calculating wind speed is the primary task of meteorology. An anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed.

Anemometer Worksheets
Anemometer Worksheets
Anemometer Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Anemometer Facts
  2. Recap
  3. Anemo What?
  4. Anemo Math
  5. I Wonder?
  6. Anemo-MY-Meter (Part 1)
  7. Anemo-MY-Meter (Part 2)
  8. Weather You Write It Or Not
  9. Anemometer Vs. Wind Vane
  10. World Wind
  11. Wind’s Choice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an anemometer used for?

An anemometer is used to measure wind speed and sometimes wind direction. It is commonly used in meteorology, aviation, and environmental research.

How does an anemometer work?

The most common type, the cup anemometer, works by using spinning cups that catch the wind. The faster the cups spin, the stronger the wind. Other types include vane anemometers and ultrasonic anemometers.

Who invented the anemometer?

The first anemometer was invented by Leon Battista Alberti in 1450. Later improvements were made, including the cup anemometer designed by John Thomas Romney Robinson in 1846.

Where are anemometers used?

Anemometers are used in weather stations, airports, wind farms, ships, and even drones. They help with weather forecasting, flight safety, and optimizing wind energy production.

Can an anemometer predict storms?

While an anemometer itself does not predict storms, it provides crucial data on wind patterns that meteorologists use to analyze and forecast storm conditions.

References

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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