Wind Power - Experiment Manual Sample Pages (PDF)

No matter where you stand on the global warming debate, you have to acknowledge that fossil fuels are not a renewable resource. It may be that the only effect you will ever experience is increasing fuel costs, but it is a near certainty that succeeding generations will have to find alternative resources if they want to maintain their current lifestyle. (Whether that should be their goal is another debate entirely!)

Whether your child wants to be on the cutting edge in terms of a career or is merely fascinated by this natural, inexhaustible, and environmentally-friendly alternative, Wind Power provides a wonderful overview. He begins by assembling a wind turbine complete with electric generator, adjustable rotors, and wind speed indicator. Then he can use the wind turbine to generate mechanical power to lift a heavy weight, or generate electricity to light up an LED or to charge a rechargeable battery. He will learn physics as it applies to wind power technology and why wind will never run out.

The full color, 32-page experiment manual offers illustrated instructions and scientific information. This kit requires an AA battery (available separately). Ages 8 and up.

Build a working wind turbine to harness power out of thin air. Wind is one of the most promising sources of clean, renewable energy available today. Wind energy has been used for centuries to pump water and crush grain in windmills, and is now increasingly being used to generate electricity to power our modern world.

Conduct more than 20 experiments with your wind turbine, including experiments with different numbers of rotor blades, different blade angles and profiles, different wind speeds, different gear ratios, and so on. Use the wind turbine to generate mechanical power to lift a heavy weight or generate electricity to light up an LED and charge a rechargeable battery.

During the experiments, you will learn the physics of force and motion as it applies to wind power technology. Learn how to measure and calculate the different forces acting on the rotor blades by breaking them down into vectors. Discover how the sun makes the wind, providing us with an endless source of energy, and read about different types of wind turbines and windmills.