Wind Vane

Use and importance of the weather instrument, invention and development of product,
and explanation on how it can affect society, politics and the economy.

The wind vane is one of the first weather devices made. It is a device used to
determine the direction of the wind. The wind vane is important because if we are able
to determine the direction of the wind, we can determine the weather because weather
is based on wind. The first record of the creation of the wind vane was by the Greek
astronomer, Andronicus around 48 B.C and was made out of bronze. It was a tribute for
Triton. During the 9th century, Scandinavians wind vanes were shaped like a quarter
circle and it rotates around a vertical axis. Also, some wind vanes in the 9th century
were shaped as roosters. During the Medieval Era, wind vanes would be shaped like an
arrow or pennant. The invention of wind vanes can affect society by making everyone
alert on what the weather can be. If people know how to determine the upcoming
weather with wind vanes, they can always be prepared on the weather for that day. The
invention of wind vanes can affect the society economically because by knowing the
direction of wind and observing its patterns, farmers can adjust their growing of crops to
the weather. They can be able to moderate amounts that go inside their crops. With
wind changing every season, harvesting and planting coincides with the wind vane in
economic. The weather vane can affect politics because since we can determine
weather through wind vanes, if we observe a strong rain as our weather, politicians can
decide if students and workers can have school or work.

2. Materials.

- Round plastic drinking cup with lid, or round food storage container with lid

- Pebbles or sand

- Sharpened pencil
- Drinking straw (a straight one, no bendies!)
- Straight pin
- Poster board or card stock paper
- Black permanent marker
- Compass
- Modeling clay or putty

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- Construction paper

3. Procedure.

The first step is to put their on the plastic container turn it around and start tracing the
edges. Then make another circle that is at least 2 inches wider than the first one. The
second step is to divide the lid in half and divide them by half again and write “north”,
“south”, “east”, and “west” with a black marker. The third step is to open the container
and put some modeling clay or putty at the bottom of container. Then fill the cup up with
sand or pebbles and close the lid and secure it with tape if needed. The next step is to
glue the container, upside down, onto the cardboard compass base. After that the next
step is to poke the pencil into the plastic container, make sure the eraser is facing on
top. Now, cut a slit in each end of the straw then cut a broad triangle and a square, both
about 3 inches across from your construction paper. Slide the triangle onto one end and
the square onto the other. Push the pin through the center of the straw and attach it to
the top of the eraser. Last step is to take your wind vane outside in a place where they
wind is not likely blocked.

Sources:

http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/docs/windvane.shtml
http://sciencing.com/history-wind-vanes-4298.html
https://www.education.com/activity/article/wind_vane_first/