Wind Energy
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purposes
Copyright 2009 General Electric Company
What is Wind Energy?
Definition
Wind Energy is the use of wind as an energy source, transforming the energy in the wind into
mechanical and/or electrical energy that can be used in a variety of ways. The mechanical energy
produced from wind can be used to propel ships (sails) and can be used to pump water or crush grain
(windmills). Using wind to produce electrical energy is the largest use for wind today, wind turbines are
used to generate electricity that can be used in homes, businesses, schools, and for sale to utilities. In
2002 less than 1% of the electricity used in the US was provided by wind1, but this is growing!
Why is Wind Energy important?
In many places the wind is an abundant, renewable source of energy. If we can make use of this
energy we will use less oil and other fossil fuels.
Goal of experiment
Determine the average wind level in your area over the course of a week.
Items needed for the experiment
Construction paper, tissue paper, string, scissors, glue
Instructions for the demonstration
Make a windsock by bending a piece of construction paper lengthwise to form a cylinder, then glue the
ends. Cut the tissue paper into thin strips and glue the tissue paper strips onto the end of the cylinder
for tails. Cut two holes in the other end of the cylinder at opposite sides and tie a string in between
them to act as a hanger.
Tie the hanger of the windsock outside in a place where it will be in the wind.
Look at the windsock every morning and night for 5 days and record the motion of the windsock in the
worksheet. At the end of the week compare your notes to the Beaufort Scale. What was your
approximate Beaufort force and wind speed for each of your observations?
Conclusions
Did your windspeed change between morning and night? Look at your measurements over the course
of the week, did your wind speed change a lot? Did it stay the same?
A wind turbine produces the most electricity when the wind speed is close to the turbine’s rated wind
speed. If the wind speed is above the rated speed the turbine will be braked or stopped. If the wind
speed is below the rated wind speed the turbine will produce less electricity. If the rated speed for a
1
Wind Energy Teacher’s Guide, American Wind Energy Association, http://www.awea.org/pubs/documents/TeachersGuide.pdf
turbine is about 40 kph how many days out of the week could you be generating the most electricity?
How many days would you be producing no electricity?
Name ___________________________________ Wind Energy Activity Sheet
Record motion of wind sock:
-
Tails still?
Tails waving?
Tails out level?
Body (cylinder) out level?
Observation
DAY 1
am
pm
DAY 2
am
pm
DAY 3
am
pm
DAY 4
am
pm
DAY 5
am
pm
Beaufort Force
Wind Speed
The Beaufort Scale
Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857) of the British navy introduced the scale that bears his name
in 1805. The Admiral developed it as a system for estimating wind strengths without the use of
instruments. It is still in use today.
Force
Description
Conditions
0
Calm
Smoke rises vertically
0
1
Light air
Smoke drifts
1-5
2
Light breeze
Leaves rustle;
Vane moved by wind
6-11
Leaves in constant motion;
light flag extend
12-19
Raises dust and loose paper;
small branches move
20-29
3
4
Gentle breeze
Moderate breeze
Wind speed (kph)
5
Fresh breeze
Small trees sway;
crested wavelets on inland water
30-38
6
Strong breeze
Large branches in motion;
whistling in telegraph
39-50
7
Moderate gale
Whole trees in motion
51-61
8
Fresh gale
Breaks twigs off trees;
impedes walking
62-74
9
Strong gale
Slight damage to buildings
75-86
10
Whole gale
Large branches broken;
some trees uprooted
87-101
11
Storm
Large trees uprooted
102-120
12
Hurricane
Widespread damage
120+
This activity would be great to include with an energy unit or weather unit.
NYS Standard 4: The Physical Setting
Key Idea 2: Many of the phenomena that we observe on earth involve interactions
among componesnts of air, water, and land.
P.I. - 2.1 Describe the relationship among air, water, and land
on Earth.
2.1a
2.1b
2.1e
Key Idea 4: Energy exists in many forms and when these forms change energy is
conserved.
P.I. – 4.1 Describe a variety of forms of energy and the
changes that occur in objects when they interact
with those forms of energy.
4.1a
4.1b
4.1c
4.1d
P.I. – 4.2 observe the way one form of energy can be
transferred into another form of energy present in
common situations.
4.2a
4.2b