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Windmill Turbine. Problem. How does the number of blades affect the amount of wind energy generated by a windmill?. Real World Connection.
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Problem How does the number of blades affect the amount of wind energy generated by a windmill? Real World Connection There is enough energy for people to capture from the wind to meet all of the world’s power demand without harming the planets climate. Windmills are important because they help capture wind energy.
Background Research We have been harnessing the wind energy for hundreds of years. From old Holland to farms in the United States windmills been used for pumping water or grinding grain. Today wind turbines are the modern equivalent of a windmill, and they are used to generate electricity. Wind turbine like windmills are mounted on a tower 100 ft (30 meters) or more above ground to capture the most energy. Turbines catch the wind energy with their propeller like blades. They can capture the energy of the fastest and slowest wind. Windmills work because they can slow down the speed of the wind, and an electrical generator can be used to generate electricity. Wind is moving air created by uneven heating of the surfaces during the day. The warm air rises and expands, and the heavier cooler air over the water moves in to take its place. Wind is renewable and as long the sun shines we will have wind. There are many advantages to wind power. Wind is a clean energy. Windmills do not pollute the air with greenhouse gases. Wind is free and people aren’t hurt trying to harvest it. The are some minor disadvantages to wind power. Many researchers say that wind is not always reliable.
Materials • Sand • Water bottle • PVC pipe • Turbine motor • Tape • Cardboard • Paper clip/hot glue
Test Methods • We put sand in the bottle water and as a holder. • We added the pipe. • Tape the motor to the pipes. • Craft out the blades out of cardboard. • Put together the paper clips and cardboard with hot glue. • Put the blades on the cork. • Attach the motor to the cork. • Turn on the fan to test the windmill.
Data Analysis The data shows that using 5 blades it can gain a lot of wind speed and have enough energy to collect. The data shows that trial 4 with 3 blade can have 6.00 speed of wind power, but trial 4,5,6 with 5 blades have 9.01,9.02 and 9.04 have enough wind power but better speed of wind. The 4 blades trial 6 have the most AT 11.11,the rest is lower than 7.00 as the four blade have good wind power but not much speed of wind power. The average for 3 blades was 5.12. The average for 4 blades was 4.36. The average for 5 blades was the highest at 7.34. The average for 6 blades was the lowest at 1.04.
