KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Walk-In Get your 5 points! Quietly take out: Notebook, pencil, folder, pencil box. Question: State two or more things you could change about your wind turbine, to test how much electricity is generated. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Some Answers… Number of blades What blades are made out of Shape of blades Angle blades are tilted at KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Walk-In Take out: notebook,, folder, pencil box. Copy the question and answer in sentences: Explain how a wind turbine would produce the electromagnetic effect. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Some Answers… Wind turns the blades of the turbine, which should turn the shaft, which has magnets wrapped in copper wire attached, so a current is produced in the wire. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org But wait! When a wind turbine or windmill turns, do you see the base moving?!?? Where must the magnets and copper wire be?! We’ll discover this as we study… KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Walk-In Take out notebook, folder, pencil box. Take out AGENDA. Copy the agenda for this week. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Wind Turbines

Can wind really make a difference? Watch this story about William Kamkwamba in Africa, and how he became a hero by using engineering! Discuss with your group the things that you think are needed to make a wind turbine to generate electricity. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

A look inside. Blades are a very important component (duh!) Things to note as compared to Small Wind Turbines Blades can be actively pitched by hydraulics. Spin at 12-20 RPM --- much slower than a small wind turbine Large driveshaft attached to a gearbox….must go from 12-20 RPM to 1600 RPM for the generator. Generator creates electricity. Small Wind Turbines use vanes (typcally) to track the wind…they uses and anemometer and hydraulics to move the turbine. Highly computerized and automated….senses conditions and can turn itself off if there is a problem. Often connected by computers to one location and run from there.

How a Wind Turbine Works Wind spins the blades. The rotor (middle hub) attached to the blades turns. The rotor contains magnets wrapped in copper wire. The electromagnetic effect induces an electric current. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Building Wind Turbines We have the equipment to make wind turbines and to test them for the amount of electricity they generate! We will be designing and testing turbine blades to OPTIMIZE our design. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Designing Our Wind Turbines

Equipment for Wind Turbines Our wind turbines will consist of Hub Arm Blade Rotor Turbine Let’s get acquainted with these materials! KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Examine materials and take notes. B – Line up on the TILE, take ONE of each item in the bin, bring to table. D – Line up AT FRONT, get safety glasses for everyone at your table. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE SO BE CAREFUL WITH THEM! KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Copy this vocabulary chart and fill it in: Object- WORD Picture- Draw it Job or function Reminds me of… Hub the central part of a wheel, rotating on or with the axle Arm (We are using wooden dowels) something that extends or projects from a larger structure. Blade (Attaches to arm) the flat, wide section of an implement or device such as an oar or a propeller Rotor (hub, arms,and blades) the rotating assembly in a turbine, especially a wind turbine Turbine (all parts form one working system) a turbine has a large wheel with vanes, rotated by the wind to generate electricity

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Video Clip Advantages of wind power KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Wind Turbine Groups

Our Wind Turbine Experiment Your group will represent a wind turbine company, trying to design and test the best wind turbine design possible! How would we know what “best” is? KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

The best designed turbine will… Produce the highest amount of electricity. Evidence: Which one has the highest amount of volts on the voltmeter? KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Wind Turbine Company Form a group of 3. Sit together. Come up with a company name. Write your names, baggie label and company name on your sheet. Each person turns in their own sheet. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Wind Power Advantages Wind power, as an alternative to burning fossil fuels, is plentiful (never runs out) renewable, widely distributed (found all over the earth!), clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, uses only a little land since turbine is at the top of a thin pole.

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Forming your turbine… Watch the Hollywood style video for materials and how to put together! KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org Today’s goal Each person sketches 2 blade designs. Discuss and decide which blade design you will use. Get cardboard and begin making blades. Store all blades, dowels, etc. in your group’s baggie. Put in your period’s tub. KidWind Project | www.kidwind.org

Meet William Kamkwamba Inspiration: William Kamkwamba http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/williamkamkwa mba/photos.html Answer the following questions with your group: Why did William build a wind turbine? Do you think it worked the first time he tried it? Why would people try to improve the design of a wind turbine? What things would something need to consider before starting a project like this? Remember that the engineering design process starts with ASK and identifying a problem or need. List as many questions or problems that would inform this work.