Q:

What is an anemometer?

A:

An anemometer is a meteorological instrument used for measuring wind speed, says Brent McRoberts of Texas A&M University. “Although many different kinds of anemometers exist, the most traditional one used is known as a cup anemometer,” he explained. “Cup anemometers have three or four hemispherical cups attached to arms that meet at a center point on a swivel. The cups are spaced apart equally in distance and rotate at a speed proportional to the speed at which the wind is blowing. These cup anemometers, however, can only tell the speed of the wind, but not its direction. By combining a propeller with a weathervane, windmill anemometers show the direction of the wind as well as its speed.”