I think that wind speed will affect the amount of power produced by a wind turbine 

What is a Wind Turbine?

A wind turbine is a structure with blades that spin in the wind; it converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. 

What is Kinetic Energy?

Kinetic energy is energy of movement. Every object in motion has kietic energy. When you walk you are using kinetic energy.  When a wind  turbine spins it has kinetic energy.

There are 5 types of kinetic energy:

• Chemical Energy
• Electrical Energy
• Gravitational Energy
• Mechanical Energy
• Nuclear Energy

How does a generator work?

The wind makes the blades spin, creating kinetic energy. This kinetic energy rotates the shaft inside the generator.

The rotation of the shaft inside the generator causes electrons to move in the external circuit creating electrical energy.

Why Are Wind Turbines Important?

Wind turbines provide electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air. Wind power is a clean and renewable energy source. Wind can be found almost anywhere.

What is a Wind Farm?

A wind farm is a group of wind Turbine built in one area to genterate electricity for large area. 

Electricity produced by these turbines goes to the same transformer before going to a substation and then to homes and businesses.  You can build wind farm on land or in the ocean.

Fun Facts about Wind Turbines

• Wind turbine towers can be as tall as the Statue of Liberty
• Wind turbine blades can be around 90 metres long
• Wind farms create jobs for local communities
• Wind power can support farmers
• Wind power does not emit any greenhouse gases

In this experiment the variables are:

Controlled Variables:

1. Distance between wind source and fan blades
2. Wind Direction
3. Size of fan blades

Manipulated Variables:

1. Wind Speed

Responding Variables:

1. Electrical output from generator

I am going to use a blow dryer to produce wind at different speeds to spin the wind turbine.  The blades will spin the shaft making kinetic energy, the generator shaft spins turning the kinetic energy into electricity. I will see how different wind speeds produce different amounts of electicity using a volt meter connected to the wind turbine generator.

When turning the blow dryer on to setting 1 it had a wind speed of 41 km/h this produced 3V of electricity. when turning the blow dryer on to setting 2 it had a wind speed of 60 km/h this produced 4.5V of electricity. wind speed did affect the amont of power produced by a wind turbine 

setting 1. 41 km/h= 3 voltes

setting 2. 60 km/h= 4.5 voltes

The results of my experiment show that as I increased the wind speed the amount of electrical energy produced also increased. The values show that as I increased wind speed the voltage increased by the same proportions with the generator used in the experiment.

Through my experiment of using a blow dryer to make wind at 2 different wind speeds to spin the turbine and monitor the power produced with the attached volt meter i was able to see the change in output at different wind speeds.  Using an anemometer I found that on the first setting the wind speed was 41 km/h and this produced 3V of electricity. On the second setting the wind speed was 60km\h and produced 4.5V of electricity.  Therefore in conclusion I have learned that wind speed does affect the amount of power produced by a wind turbine.

The knowledge that wind speed does affect the amount of energy produced by a wind turbine can help in deciding what areas would be best to build a wind farm. You would want to build them in an area that gets consistant high with speeds. 

Sources of error in my experiment include: 

- the fan is not fully secure so it can move causing the wind direction to vary, which affects how much kenetic energy is tranfered to the turbine blades.

- the wire connections could come apart or short circut.

- the lightbulbs could burn out or stop working

- measuring wind speed with a handheld device can introduce human error.

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Environment for kids: wind power. (n.d.). https://www.ducksters.com/science/environment/wind_power.php

Kid’s korner. (n.d.). https://c03.apogee.net/mvc/home/hes/land/el?utilityname=mp&spc=kids&id=16168

Wind Turbine Facts | LoeriesFontein Wind Farm | Sustainable Wind Energy. (n.d.). https://loeriesfonteinwind.co.za/wind-energy-library/wind-turbine-facts/

Wind energy. (n.d.). https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wind-energy/

Lai, O. (2022, June 6). “10 incredible facts about wind energy that will blow you away”. Earth.org. 

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, February 27).  “Wind Turbine”. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine

“How do wind turbines work?” (n.d.). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work

I would like the thank my teachers and school for inspiring me to try this new experience.  I also want to thank my parents for providing the supplies for my experiment as well as my dad's help with power tools used in the construction of the base.  My dad was also a great help by sharing his knowledge of engineering and wind turbines