Why is wind directon expressed as "FROM"?

On Thu, 5 Jan 2006 11:51:58 -0500, "JohnH"
wrote in ::

Why is that?

The convention is probably a result of the way a weather vane works;
the arrowhead points into the wind, so a compass rose placed under it
indicates the direction of the wind's origin.

The convention is probably a result of the way a weather vane works;

I'd say the opposite - the vane is designed that way because we're
interested in where the hot air came from.

One could easily design a vane that worked the other way.

Jose
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On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 17:49:51 GMT, Jose
wrote in ::

One could easily design a vane that worked the other way.

How would you do that?

Make the arrowhead really big and mount the thing by the tail.

Tie a piece of string on a stick and see which way it points.

On 5 Jan 2006 10:01:48 -0800, "Tony" wrote in
.com::

Make the arrowhead really big and mount the thing by the tail.

Tie a piece of string on a stick and see which way it points.

I know how to do it. I just wanted to see if Jose did.

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

How would you do that?


The shape doesn't matter. All that's required is greater surface area on
the downwind side of the pivot point.

On Thu, 05 Jan 2006 22:44:35 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote in
. net::


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .

How would you do that?


The shape doesn't matter. All that's required is greater surface area on
the downwind side of the pivot point.


So the placement of the pivot point is immaterial?

"Jose" wrote in message
. ..

I'd say the opposite - the vane is designed that way because we're
interested in where the hot air came from.

One could easily design a vane that worked the other way.


Most weather vanes I've seen are of the simple arrow type. A weather vane
of that type that pointed the other way would be counterintuitive, the arrow
would be "flying" backward.

One could easily design a vane that worked the other way.


Most weather vanes I've seen are of the simple arrow type. A weather
vane of that type that pointed the other way would be
counterintuitive, the arrow would be "flying" backward.

In which case is a windsock confusing?

If we used standard vectors, the tail could be arrow shaped, lose the tail
and save 50% in parts costs

"JohnH" wrote in message
...

In which case is a windsock confusing?


None that I can think of.



If we used standard vectors, the tail could be arrow shaped, lose the tail
and save 50% in parts costs

If you lose the tail you lose the ability to estimate wind speed from the
windsock.