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Counting rainfall one bucket tip at a time

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?
  • What could a tipping-bucket gauge miss during a very short or intense shower?

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Earth and weather

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A flat map can warn you that a route climbs sharply before you ever see the hill. Contour lines join places of equal height, and their spacing adds information about how quickly the ground rises.

2–3 min

How can lines on a map show a steep hill?

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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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Counting rainfall one bucket tip at a time | Speech Topic | speaking.app