what size is your carbon footprint? making a model wind turbine we’re going to give you some ideas...
TRANSCRIPT
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
We’re going to give you some ideas about how to make a wind
turbine. It will generate electricity from ‘wind’ made by a fan!
Or I could blow on it!
You could try using it outside in
the real wind.
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
A piece of thick cardboard has been taped on top to make a platform for the turbine head (or rotor) to sit on. I made sure the
front edge sticks out further than the bottle so the blades can turn.
We made the tower for the wind turbine out of a large
plastic bottle. The bottle is partly filled with gravel. Can you think
why?
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
Now we can tape the electric
motor to the front of the tower. Make
sure it sticks out over the front of the card,
won’t you?
But where are the blades?
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
The electric motor is going to be the generator.
It will produce a small amount of electricity. Look at
what to do next to make
the blades!
You use corrugated plastic to make the blades, dowel to join the blades to
the wooden hub and a black pulley wheel – and that
makes a turbine. Brilliant!
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
Cool.Now what
happens?
Not bad Superhero, for our first attempt!
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
The turbine is just about ready to test. I’ve had to make a few
adjustments but it’s fine now.
Can you see how the crocodile clips fix on the back of the electric
motor?
That looks great!
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
Do you know what this is, Superhero?
Ooh, is it a TV controller? Let’s watch cartoons!
No, it’s a digital voltmeter,
for measuring electrical output.
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
We’re ready to test our turbine in front of the fan. After
that, we can try changing the shapes of our blades and tilting
them different ways to get the best reading
on the voltmeter.
What fun!Can I have a go? Please,
please….
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
All these different turbine blade shapes were made at school. Which do you think
produced the most electricity? Why?
Try bending the blades lengthways slightly and see
what happens.
What size is your carbon footprint?
Making a model wind turbine
Why not cover the plastic bottle with paper and decorate it? You
could make it look like a real wind turbine tower or like a
more colourful version!
Can you think of a slogan to go with your wind turbine?
Like ‘Winderful, Wonderful Wind Power’!
This PowerPoint is based on work by Ian Mitchell, The Green Egg Company, developed & edited by Amie Andrews for TLCP and Vicky Darrell & Ali Ross, Sundog Energy.