Wind Energy Station Directions
Simple Wind Generator
This experiment shows how wind can be used to generate electricity
to light an LED bulb (light-emitting diode)
1. Connect the LED to the motor in the
pvc stand (using the red and black
wires).
2. Place the motor in front of the fan
(set to the highest setting).
3. Change the position of the motor so
that the blades rotate at the fastest
speed possible. (The propeller must be turning
very fast to produce enough voltage to light the LED)
4. If the LED does not light up, try
switching the wires. Why might that work?
Wind Turbine Powered Motor
This experiment shows how wind can be used to generate electricity
to power another motor.
1. Connect the 2nd motor to the turbine in the pvc
stand (using the red and black wires).
2. Place the turbine in front of the fan (set to the
highest setting).
3. Change the position of the turbine so that the
blades rotate at the fastest speed possible)
4. If the 2nd motor does not turn, try switching the
wires. Why might that work?
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Did you notice which way the turbine was spinning?
What about the motor?
Are both spinning at the same rate?
Why or Why Not?
How Much Wind Turbine Power?
This experiment shows how we can measure the amount of power generated
From a wind turbine.
1. Place the turbine in front of the fan (set to the
LOWEST setting).
2. Connect a lead (red & green wires w/ clips) to each of the
turbine’s wires (red to red, green to black)
3. Connect the MULTIMETER to the ends of the
leads. (black to red, red to green)
4. Turn on the multimeter and turn the dial to
DCV20 to measure POWER (V).
–
What was the voltage?
5. Turn the dial to DCA200m to measure CURRENT
–
How many AMPS are produced?
6. Try different fan settings and record the new
values.
7. Can you calculate power knowing that Power
(watts)= Voltage (volts) x Current (amps) for each
setting?
Putting Wind Power to Use
1. This station requires 3 people (1 person to
position the wind turbine and 2 to race)
2. Turn on the power to the “WIND” (the fan
on the wall)
3. Position the turbine, using the long DROP
BAR so that the blades spin as fast as
possible.
4. Place the cars on the race track and press
the button on each controller (Don’t push to
hard, there is so much energy being produced that
the cars will fly off the track)
Putting Wind Power to Use
Questions:
1. What happens if you hold the button down to
long?
2. Try waiting a minute and press the button again.
What happened?
3. What happens if you change the direction the
turbine is facing the “wind”?
4. Why don’t the cars work right away? (Think
about the experiment with the capacitor you
just did. What do you think might be inside the
race track?)
5. What could we use (like the capacitor) that
would allow us to store wind energy generated
by a wind turbine?