Mad Science of Sacramento Valley - Bottle Barometer!
Channel: Mad Science of Sacramento Valley
Date: 2014-08-25

What you need:
Water
Bowl
Medium-sized clear bottle
Cardstock
Scissors
Tape 
Markers

What You Do:
1. Fill the bowl halfway and the bottle about three-quarters full with water
2. Cover the mouth if the bottle with your hand. Turn the bottle upside down in the bowl.
3. Make sure the mouth of the bottle is under the surface of the water. Remove your hand and balance the bottle upside down in the bowl.
4. Cut the cardstock to make a thin strip that is a bit shorter than the bottle.
5, Line the card strip vertically with the side of the bottle, towards the top. Tape it in place.
6. Use a marker to mark the water level on the card strip. Number it, or write the date so you know when the water was at that level.
7. Mark the water level each day for the next several days. What do you notice?

What's Going On?:
You made a baramoter! barameters measure atmospheric pressure. This gives us a clue about what's going on with the weather. The water didnt pour out tof the bottle when you moved your hand. Instead, the water level dropped a little, and then came to a rest. The weight of the air in out atmophere and the force is it exerts is called air pressure. Air
pressure changes slightly from day to day. When there is a decrease in air pressure, the water level in the bottle will drop. When the level of the water inside the bottle drops, you can expect warmer, wetter weather! An increase in air pressure will push the water up higher, and drier weather will be in the forecast.

Now Try This!:
Try placing the barometer in different places. How does it react in a room with air conditioning? How does it react if you place it outside?

Mad Science of Sacramento Valley
(916)779-0390
Sacramento.MadScience.org
info@madsciencesacto.com
Serving Placer, El Dorado, Solano, Amador, Sutter, San Joaquin, Yolo and Sacramento Counties!!!