Simple Anemometer

Quick Answer: The Simple Anemometer is a basic wind-measuring instrument for school weather studies. The product photo shows a swinging-plate design, in which a hanging plate is pushed up a curved scale by the wind, mounted with a wind vane, a direction dial and a small compass in the base.

How the Swinging-Plate Anemometer Works

Most people picture an anemometer as spinning cups, but the older swinging-plate design works differently. A flat plate hangs from a horizontal pivot at the top of the instrument. Wind pressing on the face of the plate pushes it back and up, and the stronger the wind, the higher it swings. A curved, graduated scale beside the plate shows how far it has been lifted, which is read as a measure of wind strength. The design is usually credited to Heinrich Wild, whose wind gauge was used at weather stations in the late nineteenth century.

For the plate to read correctly its face must point into the wind, which is the job of the wind vane. In the product photo the vane, with its broad tail fin and pointer, turns the head of the instrument so the plate faces the wind, while the dial below it is marked with compass directions. Aligning the dial with the compass in the base lets students read wind direction at the same time as they estimate speed.

Readings from a simple instrument like this are most useful as comparisons between days and places, or converted to the Beaufort scale. The listing does not state the scale units or calibration.

Specifications

Wind Investigations

• Daily wind speed and direction records for a school weather station
• Comparing wind in sheltered and exposed parts of the school grounds
• Relating readings to the Beaufort scale and observed effects on trees and flags
• Geography fieldwork on microclimates, with a wireless weather sensor for comparison

Setting Up and Care

• Set the simple anemometer on a firm, level surface in the open, away from walls and trees that deflect the wind.
• Align the direction dial with north using the compass before recording, and keep it away from steel objects that disturb the needle.
• Bring it indoors after use and in strong winds or rain; wipe it dry before storing.
• Check that the plate and vane swing freely before each session.

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools buy a simple anemometer to add wind to their weather records without the cost and wiring of an electronic station. LabEquip lists it with its biology lab products; for a cup-type teaching version see the anemometer model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a swinging-plate anemometer different from a cup anemometer?

In a cup anemometer the wind spins a rotor and the rotation rate gives the speed. In a swinging-plate anemometer the wind pushes a hanging plate, and the angle it swings to gives the strength. The plate type reads instantly without counting, but it must face the wind to be accurate.

Why does wind direction name where the wind comes from?

By convention, a north wind blows from the north. A wind vane’s pointer points into the wind, towards its source, because the larger tail fin is pushed downwind. Students often reverse this, so it is worth checking on the first day.

Where should the anemometer be placed?

In an open space as far as practical from buildings, walls and trees, which slow and redirect the wind. Standard weather stations mount wind instruments well above the ground; in a school, a flat roof or an open playing field gives more representative readings than a courtyard.

What is the Beaufort scale?

The Beaufort scale runs from force 0, calm, to force 12, hurricane, and describes each force by its visible effects, such as smoke drifting, leaves rustling or branches moving. Recording both the anemometer reading and the Beaufort force helps students connect numbers with what they see.

Why does the plate keep swinging up and down?

Wind is gusty, so its pressure on the plate changes from second to second. Watch the plate for about a minute and record the typical position and the highest gust, rather than a single glance.

Why must the compass be kept away from metal?

A magnetic compass needle is deflected by nearby iron and steel, including railings and bench frames. Check north away from such objects, then set the direction dial to match before taking readings.

Last Updated: September 2026