An anemometer is an musical instrument that measures air current speed and wind force per unit area. Anemometers are important tools for meteorologists, who study weather patterns. They are besides of import to the work of physicists, who study the way air moves.

The nigh common type of anemometer has iii or iv cups attached to horizontal arms. The arms are attached to a vertical rod. As the wind blows, the cups rotate, making the rod spin. The stronger the wind blows, the faster the rod spins. The anemometer counts the number of rotations, or turns, which is used to calculate air current speed. Because wind speeds are non consequent—there are gusts and lulls—wind speed is usually averaged over a brusk period of fourth dimension.

A like type of anemometer counts the revolutions made by windmill-style blades. The rod of windmill anemometers rotates horizontally.

Other anemometers summate current of air speed in dissimilar ways. A hot-wire anemometer takes reward of the fact that air cools a heated object when it flows over it. (That is why a breeze feels refreshing on a hot day.) In a hot-wire anemometer, an electrically heated, thin wire is placed in the air current. The amount of ability needed to keep the wire hot is used to calculate the air current speed. The college the wind speed, the more power is required to keep the wire at a constant temperature.

Current of air speed can too be adamant past measuring air force per unit area. (Air force per unit area itself is measured past an instrument called a barometer.) A tube anemometer uses air pressure to make up one's mind the wind pressure, or speed. A tube anemometer measures the air pressure within a glass tube that is closed at 1 end. Past comparison the air force per unit area inside the tube to the air pressure exterior the tube, air current speed tin be calculated.

Other anemometers work past measuring the speed of sound waves or past shining laser beams on tiny particles in the wind and measuring their effect.

Uses of Anemometers

Anemometers are used at well-nigh all conditions stations, from the frigid Arctic to warm equatorial regions. Wind speed helps indicate a change in weather patterns, such as an approaching storm, which is important for pilots, engineers, and climatologists.

Aerospace engineers and physicists ofttimes use laser anemometers. This type of anemometer is used in velocity experiments. Velocity is the measurement of the rate and direction of change in the position of an object. Laser anemometers calculate the air current speed around cars, airplanes, and spacecraft, for example. Anemometers help engineers brand these vehicles more aerodynamic.

anemometer

Anemometers measure out wind speed and determine wind direction. Using these sets of data, meteorologists can calculate air current pressure. Current of air pressure is the force exerted on a structure by the current of air.

Anemometers in Space
NASA is considering a mission to Venus that would use an anemometer to measure wind speed on that planet. Scientists hope the anemometer and other instruments will paint a better picture of Venus' surface and atmosphere.

Weather condition Vane
Weather vanes are instruments that show the direction of the wind. Although they provide information almost where wind is bravado, they are by and large decorative and exercise not requite the same information virtually wind speed equally anemometers.

aerodynamics

Noun

the study of how air moves.

aerospace

Noun

business concerned with the manufacturing and operation of vehicles that fly in and above Globe's atmosphere.

Noun

layer of gases surrounding Globe.

air pressure

Substantive

force pressed on an object by air or atmosphere.

Noun

a device that measures wind speed.

Substantive

region at Earth'due south extreme north, encompassed by the Chill Circle.

Substantive

an musical instrument that measures atmospheric force per unit area.

breeze

Noun

low-cal wind or wind.

calculate

Verb

to reach a determination by mathematical or logical methods.

climatologist

Noun

person who studies long-term patterns in weather.

consequent

Adjective

maintaining a steady, reliable quality.

decide

Verb

to decide.

engineer

Substantive

person who plans the building of things, such equally structures (construction engineer) or substances (chemical engineer).

equatorial

Describing word

having to do with the equator or the area around the equator.

forecast

Verb

to predict, especially the weather.

frigid

Adjective

very cold.

gust

Noun

sudden, strong air current.

horizontal

Adjective

left-correct management or parallel to the Earth and the horizon.

hot-wire anemometer

Noun

musical instrument that measures air current speed past measuring the amount of power needed to proceed a hot wire at a consistent temperature.

indicate

Verb

to display or show.

laser

Noun

(acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) an musical instrument that emits a thin beam of calorie-free that does not fade over long distances.

lull

Noun

calm or however wind.

meteorologist

Substantive

person who studies patterns and changes in Earth's atmosphere.

particle

Substantive

small piece of cloth.

physicist

Noun

person who studies the relationship betwixt affair, energy, move, and force.

pilot

Noun

person who steers a ship or aircraft.

Noun

whatsoever area on Globe with one or more common characteristics. Regions are the basic units of geography.

rotate

Verb

to turn around a heart point or axis.

similar

Adjective

alike or resembling.

sound wave

Noun

wave of air pressure producing sound.

spacecraft

Substantive

vehicle designed for travel outside Earth's temper.

storm

Noun

astringent weather indicating a disturbed state of the atmosphere resulting from uplifted air.

Noun

degree of hotness or coldness measured by a thermometer with a numerical scale.

tube anemometer

Substantive

musical instrument that measures wind speed by comparison air pressure level exterior a tube to air pressure inside information technology.

velocity

Noun

measurement of the rate and direction of alter in the position of an object.

vertical

Noun

up-down direction, or at a right angle to Earth and the horizon.

weather condition pattern

Noun

repeating or predictable changes in the Earth's atmosphere, such equally winds, precipitation, and temperatures.

weather condition station

Noun

area with tools and equipment for measuring changes in the atmosphere.

windmill

Substantive

instrument that generates power from the forcefulness of air current rotating large blades.

current of air speed

Noun

force and velocity of wind.

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    Writers

    Kim Rutledge
    Tara Ramroop
    Diane Boudreau
    Melissa McDaniel
    Santani Teng
    Erin Sprout
    Hilary Costa
    Hilary Hall
    Jeff Hunt

    Illustrators

    Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society
    Tim Gunther

    Editors

    Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing
    Kara West

    Educator Reviewer

    Nancy Wynne

    Producer

    Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Social club

    Sources

    Dunn, Margery G. (Editor). (1989, 1993). "Exploring Your World: The Adventure of Geography." Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Gild.

    Last Updated

    July 28, 2011

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