Weather Tidbits: Make Your Own Barometer

This edition of weather tidbits will be discussing how to make your own barometer, which is a weather instrument that measures air pressure. Materials needed for this experiment include a glass jar, a pencil, a straw, a toothpick or sewing needle, a spool, a marked index card with tape, and a balloon. Place the spool upright and stick the pencil into the spool. Then tape the index card onto the pencil. Cut the balloon and stretch it over the glass jar. Glue the straw to the top of the balloon and the needle to the end of the straw. Your barometer should now be set. If the air pressure is lower than the pressure in the jar, the balloon will push up. If the air pressure is higher than the pressure in the jar, the balloon will push down.