Wind is an important source of renewable energy used to create electricity. Engineers design and test different sizes and shapes of wind blades to determine which kind can maximize the electrical output at particular locations. Advances in wind blade design have increased electric output while decreasing costs.
Guiding Questions
- What blade material might be even more sensitive to wind than paper?
- What are some alternative ways of connecting the blades to the stem? How might they affect the sensitivity of the pinwheel?
- In nature, how are different blade shapes and materials used to take advantage of wind?
Target Audience: High School Students
Duration: 45-60 Minutes
Focus: Renewable Energy and wind turbine engineering
Activities: Build a small wind turbine with custom designed blades
Test and measure electricity output with a voltmeter
Experiment with blade size, shape and material to optimize performance
Skills Gained: Engineering design, problem solving, data collection, iteration
Career Link: Renewable energy engineering, mechanical engineering