Windmill Results

Windmill Type	Length of String	Mass	Time	Power	Energy
Pop can	85 cm	8.8 grams	12 seconds	73.45 joules	6.121 watts
Paper	85 cm	8.8 grams	10 seconds	73.45 joules	7.345 watts
Paper (test 2)	85 cm	13.77 grams	12 seconds	114.94 joules	9.578 watts

1.) Our paper rotor had the most output because the rotor was more reliable when it was spinning. It didn't stop and start as much as the other one so it gained more momentum.

2.) The paper rotor had more surface area and a greater angle on the blades.

3.) Some limitations to our rotor are that the blades are not very long so they won't be able to use as much air to spin.

4.) When the wind hits the edge of the blade, it splits the wind in two. One way goes above and has no effect. The other goes down and gets pushed down by the angle of the wing. The wind then pushes the plane up. The same basic effect goes for the windmills.

5.) It is necessary to twist the rotor blades in order for it to be able to catch and redirect the airflow to one side in order for it to spin.

6.) The rotors of a windmill and the sail on a sail boat both catch the air in order to move. The rotor moves the air to one side to spin and the sail catches the wind and holds it to move straight forward.