Wind Turbines

1. Which windmill had the most power? Our purple windmill had more power because the wings let the air to push them around.

2. What was different about the design with the most power? The blades in the less affective one didn't have enough space in them to make the wind hit it and make the turbine turn. In the one that worked, the rotors were cupped, which allowed the air to go in and hit the side, making it turn.

3. What are the limitations of the model?

One of the limitations was the blades were too caved in and air would get trapped in, sometimes causing the windmill to slow down. We also could have tilted the blades a little bit more and make them longer so the air would pass through more easily.

4. How do airplanes and windmills use air pressure to fly or rotate? The blades are set at an angle and have a curve to them so that the air pressure pushes them.

5. Why is it necessary to twist the rotor blades at an angle? So that the air doesn't hit the blade evenly, because then it wont be able to push and put pressure on it and it wont rotate.

6.  Explain how the rotors of a windmill and sailboat illustrate the same principle? They both use Burnellies principle because the blades have a curve in them.

Mass           Height     Energy   Power
7.5g            .95m        69.96      6.5w