Making Clinometers

This week at Brigshaw STEM Club we split up into 2 groups and half made clinometers whilst the other half analysed last weeks results. I am writing about clinometers and John will tell you more about the analysis.

A clinometer is used to measure a tangent which is not measurable with a ruler or tape measure. They are mostly related to maths but can be used in geography as well.

First of all Mr Wayman showed us a demonstration of how to make clinometers first of all we had to cut out the template using scissors. Then we had to glue or cellotape the parts which we had cut in half and place symetrically onto either side of a piece of wood. This was perhaps the easiest bit.

Next we had to push tacks through the holes marked on the template this was difficult because it took a reasonable amount of pressure to push the tacks into the wood. Then we had to hammer a nail into the top of the wood this acted as a sight to measure our angle from. After this came the fiddly part, using a piece of thread we had to tie a knot around one of the side tacks and tie a nail onto the end which acted as a weight, this means that when you point the clinometer at the sky it will measure an angle. This was a good week even though our planned activity was postponed due to bad weather. Next week, remember that we are in S4 building wooden rockets.