Timing

Taking into account that  that clilstore  we are going to develop in 2 hours. By this time, students already know concepts such as wind power, turbines, windmills , and others that will be reinforced in this topic. This is important because they will learn different  ways of energy and different aspects of the Power energy. Having as a basis my planning, this unit will be developed in in two sesions of 50 minutes each one.

What is Wind Energy ?

Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetation. Humans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes: sailing, flying a kite, and even generating electricity. The term "wind energy" describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical energy or electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical energy into electricity.

How Wind Turbines Work?

A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity. Wind turbines, like windmills, are usually mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity. Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30 meters) or more above ground, they can take advantage of faster and less turbulent wind.

A blade acts much like an airplane wing. When the wind blows, a pocket of low-pressure air forms on the downwind side of the blade. The low-pressure air pocket then pulls the blade toward it, causing the rotor to turn. This is called lift. The force of the lift is actually much stronger than the wind's force against the front side of the blade, which is called drag. The combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller, and the turning shaft spins a generator to make electricity. Wind turbines can be used to produce electricity for a single home or building, or they can be connected to an electricity grid (see illustration to the right) for more widespread electricity distribution. Wind speed and the height of the blades both contribute to the amount of energy generated. An interactive game from the Danish Wind Industry Association (www.windpower.org/composite-106.htm) lets you explore this concept in a game.

  Objectives 

• Learn about engineering design.
• Learn about wind energy and wind turbines.
• Learn how engineering can help solve society's challenges
• Learn about teamwork and problem solving.