Mike Reynolds

Cranbrook Kingswood M.S. 48303

7th hour Science

10. For the Weather Worlds activity, our team has determined that the following things are important to measure for this project:

Air temperature, water temperature, wind speed, rain fall, humidity, and air pressure.

Air and water temperatures will be measured in both direct sunlight and in the shade at the surface (ground or water) and either 10 ft above land or under water (depending on the particular scenario.) This method would use a total of 8 temperature measuring devices. Wind speed, rainfall, and humidity will only be measured at one location each. Air pressure will be measured by one tool placed at ground level, and a second placed up in a tree. New data will be recorded twice a day (at the beginning and the end of school) and recorded both separately, than averaged together. A weekly overall average will be calculated for each topic. A regular thermometer will be used to measure temperature. This tool will measure both F and C. It has been chosen because it is and old and reliable method of measuring temperature, and it is inexpensive. Wind speed will be measured with an anemometer. We chose this because it looked like the simplest device available to measure wind speed. To measure rainfall, a device will be constructed that has a surface area of one squared inch, and is ten inches deep. A ruler measuring both inches and centimeters will be placed on the side of this device. Rainfall will be measured in inches per squared inch. Humidity will be measured with a hygrometer. This was the only device found to measure this. Air pressure will be measured with a barometer. Each instrument used will be tested in a controlled environment prior to their being put into actual use. Results will also be checked with the National Weather Service, just to make sure of accuracy. This entire process should allow our team to get a pretty good handle on measuring the local weather in fairly great detail.

11. We will be using old thermometers that at the time of their purchase were probably about a dollar each. Eight thermometers should cost less than ten dollars. An anometer is $36.50, a hygrometer is $7.95, and a barometer is $42.00. These three items total to $86.55, and the thermometers are less than $10.00, so that should total less than $96.55, which leaves more than enough for the scrap material needed to construct the rain collector. I think we should be under budget. (Information has come from Frey Scientific catolog.)