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Grades K–2 · Everyday Life

How does a weather vane show where wind comes from?

A weather vane turns in the wind. It has a pointer at one end and a wide tail at the other. The middle rests on a support that lets the vane turn.

J35 visual explanationWind comes from the left. It pushes the wide tail away from that side. The pointer faces the wind. The picture does not measure how fast the wind blows.The pointer faces the incoming windWind comes from the leftPointerWide tailTurning supportThe wide tail is pushed away from the wind

In the diagramThe pointer faces the incoming windWind comes from the leftPointerWide tailTurning supportThe wide tail is pushed away from the wind

Wind comes from the left and pushes the wide tail toward the right. The pointer faces left, into the wind.

Moving air pushes on the wide tail. The tail swings away from the incoming wind. The pointer at the other end then faces where the wind comes from.

When the wind changes direction, the vane turns again. Fixed direction marks below it can help people name that direction. The vane shows where wind comes from. It does not tell how fast the wind blows.

About this explanation

Starting knowledge: Distinguish the front and back of an arrow and notice moving air.

Sources

  • Met Office — How do we measure the weather?
  • NASA — Rockets: Physical Science Teacher’s Guide with Activities, pp. 15–16 (weather-vane explanation)
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