Wind Energy

What is it?• Wind Energy is kinetic energy from the wind that can

be directly converted to electrical or mechanical energy by reacting to the atmospheres pressure slope.

• The wind mill was invented in 200 BC in China and was used to pump water and grind grain

• In modern day the wind energy has doubled through the years

How it works?

• Wind is caused by differences in the air’s temperature

• In the day time the wind blows over the land andat night the wind reverses and blows over the water

• Wind is used to generate energy

Wind turbines

• Wind turbines collects kinetic energy from the wind from blades similar to planes

• The wind glides over the blades and creates lift and turns the blades

• The blades are connected to a rotating shaft that is connected to an electric generator that makes electricity

Types of wind turbines

• Horizontal-axis Turbines- typically 20 stories tall and have 3 blades that are 200 feet long

• Vertical-axis Turbines- Blades that span from the top to the bottom and resembles an egg beater. It typically stands 100 feet tall and 50 feet wide

• Vertical-axis turbines are less common than the horizontal-axis turbine

Wind turbines locations

• Wind turbines are located where there is wind created such as tops of smooth rounded hill , open plains and shore lines also mountain gaps that produce wind

• 20% of the world power is produced from wind• The US uses wind power the most • Wind turbines are pooled into areas called wind farms that

are gridded areas to put wind energy

Pros of wind turbines

• Clean source of energy• Fewer environmental impacts than other

sources of power• Don’t pollute water or air• Reduce the use for fossil fuels• Give extra incomes to farmers and businesses

that help them stay in business

Cons of wind turbines

• Unappealing to the eye • Noisy• Can catch on fire and leak though it is rare• Birds and bats get hit and die

Citations • http://atlantissolar.com/WINDENERGY1.gif• http://www.winthropsolutions.biz/assets/images/Turbine.png• http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsW

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• http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=wind_home-basics• http://www.organicsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Wind-Turbin

es.jpg• http://plainswindeis.anl.gov/images/photos/

wind_450KW_turbine_IA_V_13764.jpg• http://wind-power-turbines.info/images/

Location_Of_Wind_Turbines_In_Iowa-9054.jpg• http://www.silvaqualitycleaning.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/

wcafi_clean-air-only_cropwe.307195327.jpg