Atmospheric Barometric Torricellian Weather Station
A challenging, hands-on discovery and STEM project designed for curious young minds aged 10 to 14.
Materials Needed
- • Wide-mouth glass jar (pint or quart size) (1 unit)
- • Heavy 12-inch latex balloon (1 unit)
- • Stout rubber bands (2 units)
- • Plastic drinking straw (1 unit)
- • Index card, tape, and fine marker (1 set)
Pro Tips
- → Stretch the cut rubber balloon skin taut like a drum skin over the jar mouth and seal with double rubber bands to create an airtight chamber.
- → Glue the base of a long straw to the center of the rubber membrane; the far tip serves as an amplified mechanical pointer arm.
- → High atmospheric pressure pushes down on the rubber membrane, tipping the pointer up; low stormy pressure lets air inside the jar expand, tipping the pointer down.
Safety First
Handle glass jars with care. Stretch balloons gently to avoid snaps.
How was this activity?
Your anonymous feedback helps us recommend better activities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Cut the neck off an uninflated 12-inch balloon and stretch the rubber sheet tightly over the mouth of an open glass jar, securing with two tight rubber bands.
Step 2
Tape the end of a long plastic straw to the exact center of the rubber diaphragm so the straw extends horizontally past the rim as an indicator arm.
Step 3
Tape an index card vertically to the wall behind the straw tip and mark the current baseline position with a fine line.
Step 4
Record pointer movements morning and evening over 3 days, observing how approaching clouds and storms correlate with downward pointer drops.