As the Rotor Turns: Wind Power and You

WGBH

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In this engineering activity, learners will get acquainted with the basics of wind energy and power production by fabricating and testing various blade designs for table-top windmills constructed from one-inch PVC pipe and balsa wood (or recycled materials). This lesson plan is divided into three parts. In Part I, learners explore outdoors and examine where wind comes from. In Part II, learners review the power equation and wind as an energy resource. Finally, in Part III, learners work in groups to construct and test their wind turbines. During each section, learners can view video segments that are linked to this resource.

Preparation Time:: 5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:: 2 to 4 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:: Over $20 per group of students
Age Range:: Ages 11 - 14
Resource Types:: Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model
Language:: English

Materials List (per group of students)

Computer with Internet connectivity
Projection equipment
PSU Erie's Renewable Energy Field Trip
Mount Washington's Beaufort Scale
Clipboards or writing surfaces
Pennsylvania map (paper or electronic: if electronic, you will need a teacher computer and projection equipment)
Kidwind Basic PVC Wind Turbine Kit or comparable resources to build a table top wind machine (detailed list included on page 4 of the student handout )
Multimeter
Desktop-sized fan
Blade materials (variable-student determined)
As the Rotor Turns Student Handout PDF Document

Keywords

Subjects

Earth and Space Science
- Earth Processes
  - Weather and Climate
- Earth Structure
  - Atmosphere
Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
  - Electrical Engineering
  - Environmental Engineering
  - Manufacturing Engineering
- Technology
Physical Sciences
- Electricity and Magnetism
  - Electric Charges and Currents
- Energy
  - Work and Machines
- Motion and Forces
  - Machines
  - Momentum and Velocity
  - Rotation Motion
- Structure and Properties of Matter
  - Volume and Density
Mathematics
- Algebra
  - Equations and Inequalities
- Data Analysis and Probability
  - Data Analysis
  - Data Collection
- Measurement
  - Units of Measurement
The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
  - Asking Questions
  - Conducting Investigations
  - Gathering Data
  - Formulating Explanations
  - Communicating Results
The Nature of Technology
- Technology and Society
  - Impacts of Technology
  - Technology and the Environment
- The Design Process
  - Invention and Innovation
  - Problem Solving
  - Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

Nature and Environment
Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

see
read
be mobile
touch

Learning styles supported:

Involves teamwork and communication skills
Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Access Rights:

Free access with registration

By:

WPSU

Source Collection

Teachers' Domain

Rights:

Funding Sources:

West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, Inc.
CPB
National Science Foundation