Wind Turbine

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Learners build a wind turbine and test it to see how much energy is created. Learners can build a variety of wind blades, test a variety of wind speeds and see what effect these have on the energy created. Adult supervision recommended.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
Over $20 per student
Age Range:
Ages 11 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • Three PVC pipes, one about 30 cm long and the others at least 15 cm long
  • Three PVC T-joints
  • One PVC elbow joint
  • Motor
  • Wire (about two feet long)
  • Wire cutters
  • Hub
  • Wood dowels
  • Multimeter
  • Alligator clips
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Hair dryer or fan
  • Materials for blades, such as balsa wood, aluminum foil, construction paper, popsicle sticks, etc.

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering
      • Environmental Engineering
    • Technology
  • Physical Sciences
    • Electricity and Magnetism
      • Electromagnetic Fields
      • Electric Circuits
    • Energy
      • Potential and Kinetic Energy
    • Motion and Forces
      • Rotation Motion
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
  • The Nature of Technology
    • Technology and Society
      • Technology and the Environment
    • The Design Process
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Problem Solving
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Electronics
  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

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