Goethe Weather Ball Barometer
Made from hand-blown glass in Germany
Height
: 230mm (9")
Diameter
: 100mm (4")
The earliest
barometers were simple glass bulbs with a spout that helped ancient
seaman predict storms. Water moving up the spout means low pressure
with potentially stormy conditions, while high pressure pushes the
water down to the bottom of the spout. This style of barometer is just
as effective today, and provides a decorative method for predicting
weather via changes in air pressure.
When good weather approaches, the liquid in the ball is pushed down the
spout. When bad weather is on the way, the liquid rises. If liquid
spills out the top, it's time to run to high ground!
Torricelli (1608 – 1647) proved
that air pressure was subject to variations and in 1643 he devised the
first barometer. Goethe, the famous German playwright, who enjoyed
scientific experiments, later developed his own simple, but effective
barometer using the principles established by Torricelli.
This
product is based on Goethe’s design. The Weather Ball Barometer will
indicate changes in air pressure quickly and accurately. The ball is
filled with colored water. Once filled the air trapped inside
the ball is no longer subject to variations in atmospheric pressure.
The liquid in the indicator tube, however, remains open to the
atmosphere and is directly affected by atmospheric pressure. When
atmospheric pressure rises the liquid in the indicator tube is pushed
down and an improvement in the weather can be anticipated. When air
pressure falls the greater pressure inside the ball causes the liquid
in the indicator tube to rise indicating that a deterioration in
weather can be expected.
- Sunday, July 08, 2007
Saved my life
Reviewed By: Debrah (New
Orleans, Louisiana)
This thing is amazing! I am a victim of hurricane Katrina. I bought
this as a present and was seeing if it worked. I saw the fluid start to
drip out the top before the hurricane. I had read the description and I
had seen the weather reports so I called my friends to see if I could
come over. I went to my friends house when the hurricane started. Later
I learned my house had been destroyed. This little object may have
saved my life.
Instructions for the Goethe Weather Ball
(based
on an idea by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Historical
background
It was Torricelli (1608 -1647) who proved
that air pressure was subject to variations. In 1643 he devised the
first barometer, which was named after him. Goethe, the famous German
playwright, who enjoyed carrying out scientific experiments, later
developed his own simple, but effective barometer using the basic
principles which Torricelli had established.
How
it works
The Goethe Weather Ball will indicate quickly
and accurately any variations in air pressure. Once the ball is filled
with liquid, the air which is trapped inside the ball is no longer
subject to variations in air pressure. When air pressure rises, the
liquid in the attached indicator glass, which is directly affected by
air pressure, is pushed downwards and an improvement in the weather can
be anticipated. When air pressure falls, greater pressure inside the
ball causes the liquid in the indicator glass to rise. A deterioration
in the weather can be expected.
Filling
and installation
Please
use preferably distilled water and boil about 50 - 200 ml of water
and colour the liquid with food colouring (liquid or
tablet) to the colour of your choice. By mixing colours, there
is no limit to the range of colours which can be created.
Fit a small diameter flexible tubing on to a
syringe and draw up the coloured liquid. Moisten the indicator glass
and then insert the tubing entirely into the ball belly. Place the ball
horizontally with the indicator glass upright, then inject the contents
of the syringe into the ball. For accurate readings and to prevent the
liquid from overflowing in bad weather, it is recommended that no more
than
200 ml is used. If you don't have tubing or syringe, just pour the
liquid into the funnel spout at the top of the glass arm, when it is
nearly full tip the barometer so that the liquid enters the ball;
repeat several times. Finally cool the instrument, ensuring that the
weather
ball is horizontal and the indicator glass is upright. The liquid will
find its own level according to the current air pressure and the
instrument is ready for use as a barometer. Locate the weather ball
away from any places which are liable to major changes in temperature,
such as near radiators or by windows.
Tip:
Reduce surface tension by adding a small drop of washing up liquid to
the boiled water, in this way condensation is kept to a minimum.
Warning
note for operation of the weather sphere / Goethe barometer
In the
case of extreme fluctuations of atmospheric pressure (low pressure) or
in the case of strong heating, some coloured liquid may escape out of
the indicator tube. Please choose the location carefully so that there
are no textiles or other sensitive materials underneath the measuring
instrument.