Wind Turbine Follow Up Answers
1. Below is an example of a drawing that students should make of the generator
system, indicating each part of the generator system.
Magnet
Turbine Blades
Shaft
Coil of Wires
Voltmeter
2.
A. Increases
B. Increases
C. Decreasing
D. Decreases
3. Although students may offer good explanations, the best place to situate the
turbines would be on the east side (town facing side) of the western mountain
and the west side (town facing side) of the eastern mountain. Cold wind from
the top of the western mountain will sink because it is dense. As it travels
down the eastern flank of the mountain, the wind will hit the blades of the
turbines activating the generators and producing electricity. Similarly, after the
remaining wind has traveled across Verde Valley, the wind will encounter the
eastern mountain and move up the mountain’s western flank, hitting the
blades of any turbines there and activating the generators.
It can be argued that the best place would be to only situate turbines on the
eastern flank (town facing side) of the western mountain. The reason for this
is that some air currents may be lost or slowed as it travels through Verde
Valley and, therefore, the western flank of the eastern mountain may not be
as effective a location as placing the turbines on the eastern flank of the
western mountain.