Introduction
The blades on a wind turbine catch the wind and spin around, making the generator generate electricity. Does this mean that bigger blades will generate more power?
In this experiment, you will explore how blade area is related to the power output of your wind turbine. To do that, you need to be able to calculate the area of the blades you are using. The area of a rectangular blade is equal to the length times the width of the blade.
Objectives
- Measure wind turbine power output with an Energy Sensor.
- Investigate how blade area affects the power output of a wind turbine.
- Determine the optimal blade area for maximum power output.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.
Ready to Experiment?
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Purchase the Lab Book
This experiment is #7 of Wind Energy Explorations. The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.
