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How can counting little bucket tips measure rain?

A rain gauge can turn a continuous shower into a series of counts. Water collected by a funnel fills a small bucket until it tips, then the next bucket takes over. A known amount per tip turns those counts into rainfall depth, though wind, blockage, and calibration can still affect the measurement.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • How does the size of each increment affect what the instrument records?

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Earth and weather

Why is the sky blue, but a sunset often red?

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Why is the sky blue, but a sunset often red?

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2–3 min

How can lines on a map show a steep hill?

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Earth and weather

How can an earthquake alert arrive before strong shaking?

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4–5 min

How can an earthquake alert arrive before strong shaking?

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How can counting little bucket tips measure rain? | Speech Topic | speaking.app