U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF

ENERGY

Energy Efficiency &

Renewable Energy

ENERGY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

An Exploration of Wind Energy and

Wind Turbines

Grades: 9-12
Topic: Wind Energy
Author: Mike Kelly
Owner: ACTS

This educational material is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Energys

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Wind Energy

An exploration of wind energy and wind turbines

ByMikeKelly

LearningGoals:Belowarethelearningtargetsforthewindenergyunit.
Icanexplainhowwindisproducedandwhatmakesforagoodwindenergysite.
Icanexplainwhyelectricitygeneratedfromwindisagoodsourceofenergy.
Icanidentifythemajorcomponentsofawindturbine.
Icanlistseveralofthedesignfactorsthatproduceefficientwindturbines
Icandescribeatleastoneoccupationassociatedwithwindturbinesandknowwhat
educationisrequiredforthisposition.
6. Iusesoundexperimentaldesignpracticeswhileperformingmyinvestigation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

AssessmentPlan:
NameofAssessment Typeof
Assessment

LearningObjective

FormatofAssessment

Formative

Includesalllearning
objectiveforthewind
unit

Paper/Penciltestwith
multiplechoice,true/false
andshortresponse

Dailyexitticket

Formative

Basedondailysub
learningtargetthat
supportamain
learningtargetsas
listed

Clickerbaseddaily
assessmenttoinsure
studentsareacquiringthe
smallconceptsthat
supportthelargeridea

Labreports(see
attachedWind
Generator&Blade
ExperimentSheet)

Formative

Labsarefocusedon
experimentaldesigns
andfactorstheeffect
windturbinedesign

Guidedopenresponse.
Reinforcestheconceptsof
goodexperimentaldesign
byroutinepracticeina

PreAssessment(see
attachedWind
Survey)

guidedfashion

TurbineBlade
competition

Formative

PostAssessment(see Summative
attachedWind
SurveyFinal)

focusedon
experimentaldesigns
andfactorstheeffect
windturbinedesign

Includesalllearning
targetsforthewind
unit

Openresponsewhichwill
givestudenttoexplain
theiroverallknowledgeon
thiscontent

Theselearningtargetsandassessmentssupportteachingthefollowingsciencecontent
standardswhileintegratingliteracyintothiscontentarea.
ContentStandards:AstheColoradoContentStandardsarecurrentlyunderrevisionandlack
details;theunitcontentwasmappedtotheNationalScienceEducationContentStandards.
RevisiontoColoradoStatestandardswillbemadewhentheyarefinalized.Boldedstandards
areemphasizedinthisunit.
SecondaryContentStandardA:SCIENCEASINQUIRY
1. AbilitiesNecessarytodoScientificInquiry
a. Identifyquestionandconceptsthatguidescientificinvestigation.
b. Designandconductscientificinvestigations.
c. Usetechnologyandmathematicstoimproveinvestigationsand
communications.
d. Formulateandrevisescientificexplanationsandmodelsusinglogicand
evidence.
e. Recognizeandanalyzealternativeexplanationsandmodels.
f. Communicateanddefendascientificargument
SecondaryContentStandardB:PHYSICALSCIENCE
1. StructureofAtoms
a. Matterismadeofminuteparticlescalledatoms,whicharecomposedofeven
smallercomponents.Thesecomponentshavemeasurableproperties,suchas
massandelectricalcharge.

b. Eachatomhasapositivelychargednucleussurroundedbynegativelycharged
electrons.Theelectricalforcebetweenthenucleusandtheelectronsholdthe
atomstogether.
c. TheAtomsnucleusiscomposedofprotonsandneutrons,whicharemuchmore
massivethanelectrons.Whenanelementhasatomsthatfiferinthenumberof
neutrons,theseatomsarecalledisotopesofanelement.
4. MotionsandForces
c. Theelectricalforceisauniversalforcethatexistsbetweentwochargeobjects.
SecondaryContentStandardD:EARTHANDSPACESCIENCE
1. EnergyinEarthSystem
a. Earthsystemshaveinternalandexternalsourcesofenergy,bothofwhichcreate
heat.Thesunisthemajorexternalsourceofenergy.Twoprimarysourcesof
internalenergyarethedecayofradioactiveisotopesandthegravitationalenergy
fromtheearthsoriginalformation.
c. Heatingofearthssurfaceandatmospherebythesundriveconvectionwithinthe
atmospheresandoceans,producingwindsandoceancurrents.
d. Globalclimateisdeterminedbyenergytransferfromthesunatandnearthe
earthssurface.
SecondaryContentStandardE:SCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY
1. AbilitiesofTechnologicalDesign
a. Identifyaproblemordesignanopportunity.
b. Proposedesignsandchoosebetweenalternativesolutions.
c. Implementaproposedsolution
d. Evaluatethesolutionanditsconsequence
e. Communicatetheproblem,process,andsolution
SecondaryContentStandardF:SCIENCEINPERSONALANDSOCIALPERSPECTIVES
3. NaturalResources
a. Humanpopulationsuseresourcesintheenvironmenttomaintainandimprove
theirexistence.
b. Theearthdoesnothaveinfiniteresources;increasinghumanconsumption
placesseverestressonthenaturalprocessesthatrenewsomeresources,and
depletesthoseresourcesthatcannotberenewed.
5. NaturalandHumanInducedHazards
d. NaturalandHumanInducedHazardspresenttheneedforhumanstoassess
potentialdangerandrisk.Manychangesintheenvironmentdesignedby

humansbringbenefitstosociety,aswellascauserisk.Studentsshould
understandthecostsandtradeoffsofvarioushazardsrangingfromthose
withminorrisktoafewpeopletomajorcatastropheswithmajorrisktomany
people.
6. ScienceandTechnologyinLocal,NationalandGlobalChallenges
a. Scienceandtechnologycanindicatewhatcanhappen,notwhatshouldhappen.
Thelatterinvolveshumandecisionsabouttheuseofknowledge
b. Understandingbasicconceptsandprinciplesofscienceandtechnologyshould
precedeactivedebateabouttheeconomics,policies,politics,andethicsof
variousscienceandtechnologyrelatedchallenges.However,understanding
sciencealonewillnotresolvelocal,nationalandglobalchallenges.
c. Individualsandsocietymustdecideonproposalsinvolvingnewresearchandthe
introductionofnewtechnologiesintosociety.

ImplementationDesign:
Belowismydailyplantocoverthiscontent.
WindTurbineUnitPlan
LessonPlanOverview:Thelessonhasstudentgothroughthedesignprocessandscientific
methodtotestimportantdesignaspectofwindturbinesandwindturbineblades.
Day1:

HavestudentstaketheWindSurveyasapretest.
PowerPoint/videopresentationmakesconnectionsbetweenwindenergytoother
energies,generators,weatherandwind.
Buildinganelectricalgenerator(teacherdemonstration).Instructionforbuildingthisis
includedonfollowingpages.

Generators/MotordemonstrationwithGenecon(teacherdemonstration).

Timepermitting GasConvectionApparatusandTouchPaperdemonstratesthe

formationofconvectioncurrentsinair.WWW.sargentWelch.comitem#CP7756000
($41.10)&item#WL1728($10.80)
Studentswillreadthe1sthalf(throughelectricitysection)oftheStudentGuideonwind
energyforhomework.

Day2:

ClassDiscussiononhomeworkreading.

DemonstratetheKidwindTurbinewiththefanandmultimeter

o Explainthecomponentsoftheturbineandhowtousethemultimeterusingthe
transparency.
Haveseveralstudentsexploretheturbineoutputatvariousdistancesfromthefanand
atdifferentfanspeeds,asmeasuredbythemultimeter.
Brainstormonfactors/variablesthateffectwindturbinedesign.
Explainthegoalsofthefollowinglabexperiments.Reviewwhatpracticesmakeforgood
experimentaldesignandtheneedtocontrolvariables.

StudentwillreadtheremainderoftheStudentGuide.

Day3:
Classwillbebrokeninto8groups.Twogroupswillexploreoneofthefollowingsetof
variables.Variablegroupsare1)numberofbladesandlengthofblades;2)Massof
bladeandmassdistribution;3)bladepitchandgeneratortype;4)gearratios.Student
willusetheWindTurbineExperimentSheettorecordtheirwork.
Reviewofsafety,reminderabouttheimportanceofhavingtheabilitytoshareout
meaningfulresults,andreminderofnotwastingmaterial.
Eachgroupwillwriteuptheexperimentaldesignpriortoconductinganyexperiment.
Teacherauthorizationisrequiredpriortoexperimentation.
Day4:
Grouppresentationofresults.Eachgroupwillhavefiveminutestoexplaintheirtest
andtheirresults.
Day5:
Slideshowofpossiblebladedesignideas
Groupswillnowattempttocreateanoptimalwindgeneratorbasedontheresultsof
theirpeersandeachgroupsideasforoptimalbladedesign.Eachdesignteamwill
documenttheirwindturbinedesignontheWindTurbineCompetitionForm.
ResultsofallgroupswillbecollectedontheClassDataSheet.

PowerintheWindcalculationandefficiencycalculationassignedashomework.

Day6:VisittoPonnequinWindFarmandVestaswindturbineblademanufacturingfacilityin
Windsor
Day7:

ExaminationofAirXwindturbine(teacherlead).

Lastchancerevisiontomaketheultimatewindgenerator.

AfterSchoolproject:settingupAirXturbinesystemforpoweringclassroomlaptopPCs.

Day8:

Postassessment.
WindExpo:groupswilldisplay/explaintheirturbinedesigntoclassvisitors.(Other
classes,otherschools,Qwest,administration.)
Awards

AnalysisofLearningResults:
TBDaslessons/assessmentsarerolledout.

WindSurvey(PreAssessment)
Name:__________________________
1. Whatcauseswind?

a) Solarflaresb)globalwarming c)solarradiation

2. Whatwouldmakeanidealsiteforawindfarm?

a) Mountaintop
b)seacoast c)narrowvalley

d)oceancurrents

d)alltheabove

3. Whataresomeofthedesignconsiderationformakinganefficientwindturbine?

4. Whatkindsofjobsareassociatedwiththewindenergy?

5. Namesomekeyelementsfordesigning/conductingexperimentation?

6. Currently,windenergyproduceshowmuchofthetotalelectricitygeneratedintheU.S.
today

a) 1%
b)5%
c)10%
d)25%


7. Onereasonfornotusingwindturbinesisthatitkillstoomanybirds.

a) true
b)false

8. Windturbinetechnologyisfairlynewandconsequentlytooexpensivetobeacost
effectiveenergysolution.

a) true
b)false

9. TheU.S.doesnothavesufficientwindforwindgenerationascomparedtoother
countrieswhogenerateconsiderableamountofelectricityfromwind.

a) True
b)false

10. Identifythefollowingcomponentsofawindturbine

Rotor

Brake

Blades

Controller

Pitch

Yawdrive

GearBox

Windvane

Lowspeedshaft

Yawmotor

Generator

Nacelle

Highspeedshaft

Tower

Anemometer

WindGenerator&BladeExperimentSheet
Name___________________________

Whatvariable(s)willyoutestforyourexperiment?__________________________

Describehowyouperformthisexperiment.BESPECIFIC!Whatmaterialswillyouuse,how
manytimeswillyoutest,howwillyouchangeyourvariable,howwillyourecordoutput.

Important!!Whatthingsdoyouhavetokeepthesame(constant)asyouperformthis
experiment?

Makeaprediction!Whatdoyouthinkwillhappenasyouchangeyourvariable?

TeacherAuthorizationtoBeginExperimentation________________________

DataTallySheet
Trial
#

Variable

Voltage
(volts)

Current
(amps)

Power
(watts)

GraphofYourData:


ExperimentalReflections
1. How did the voltage/amperage/wattage change as a result of manipulating your
variable?

2. Doyouthinkthatyourvariablehasalargeorsmalleffectonpowerproduction?

3. Whatwastheoptimalsettingforthevariablethatyoutested?

4. If you were a lead design engineer what would you recommend your company
dototheirturbineorturbineblades?Why?

5. What problems did you encounter as you performed your experiments? What
othervariableswashardtoholdconstant?

FinalWindSurvey

Name:__________________________
1. Explainhowwindisproduced.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. Describeanidealsiteforawindfarm.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. Whataresomeofthedesignconsiderationformakinganefficientwindturbine?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Describewhatkindsofjobsareassociatedwiththewindenergy.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

5. Namesomekeyelementsfordesigning/conductingexperimentation.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

6. ExplainwhyelectricitygeneratedfromwindisagoodsourceofenergyfortheU.S.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

7. Identifythefollowingcomponentsofawindturbine.

Rotor

Brake

Blades

Controller

Pitch

Yawdrive

GearBox

Windvane

Lowspeedshaft

Yawmotor

Generator

Nacelle

Highspeedshaft

Tower

Anemometer