Rain Gauge

INTRODUCTION

This experiment describes the generation of a rain gauge, which can be used to monitor the amount of precipitation.

MATERIALS

• 2 Liter plastic bottle
• Marbles or rocks
• Duct tape
• Small-width colored tape
• Scissors
• Ruler

WHAT TO DO

1. Cut the top off of the plastic bottle at the point where the diameter of the bottle starts to decrease when moving from the bottom of the bottle to the top.
2. Keep the top portion of the bottle that was just cut off. Cover all the cut edges with duct tape to cover sharp edges.
3. On the bottom part of the bottle use a ruler to make a scale of horizontal colored lines from two inches above the bottom to two inches from the top, separated by ½ inch.
4. Place the marbles or rocks in the bottom portion of the bottle to steady the base.
5. Add water to the bottle up to the first line of the scale. Turn the top portion of the bottle upside down and place inside the opening of the bottom portion of the bottle to form a funneled lid. The rain gauge is now ready for use.
6. Take the rain gauge outside and monitor the change of the water level when it rains.

QUESTIONS

1. Why is it important to measure the amount of rainfall?

SOURCE

"How Weather Works," Michael Allaby, Reader’s Digest, Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1995, p. 44.

Grade Level: This experiment is expected to be appropriate for grades K and above.

© S. Olesik, WOW Project, Ohio State University, 2002.