1. 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 |

2. 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 |

3. 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 |

4. 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 |

5. 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 |

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

7. Wind Turbines

8. 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 |

9. 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 RPM --- much slower than a small wind turbine
Large driveshaft attached to a gearbox….must go from 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.

10. 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 |

11. 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 |

12. Designing Our Wind Turbines

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

14. 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 |

15. 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

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

17. Wind Turbine Groups

18. 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 |

19. 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 |

20. 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 |

21. 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.

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

23. 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 |

24. Meet William Kamkwamba
Inspiration: William Kamkwamba
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.