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Questions and Answers
What is the main source of air pollution and greenhouse gases?
What is the main source of air pollution and greenhouse gases?
What is the purpose of a wind turbine?
What is the purpose of a wind turbine?
What creates the wind?
What creates the wind?
What is the significance of wind energy?
What is the significance of wind energy?
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When were wind turbines that could generate electricity first invented?
When were wind turbines that could generate electricity first invented?
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What type of energy does the wind turbine transform the kinetic energy of wind into?
What type of energy does the wind turbine transform the kinetic energy of wind into?
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What is the minimum wind speed required for larger scale turbines to generate electricity?
What is the minimum wind speed required for larger scale turbines to generate electricity?
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Why are off-shore wind farms becoming more popular?
Why are off-shore wind farms becoming more popular?
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What is a major limitation of wind energy?
What is a major limitation of wind energy?
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What is a potential environmental concern with wind turbines?
What is a potential environmental concern with wind turbines?
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Study Notes
Electricity and Energy Sources
- The majority of electricity worldwide comes from burning non-renewable fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
- Fossil fuels are a cheap and readily available source of energy, but they also cause air pollution and greenhouse gases, contributing to global climate change.
Wind Energy
- Wind energy is a clean, renewable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gases or pollution.
- Wind turbines can supply energy to homes, businesses, and entire communities.
- Wind energy holds promise as a significant source of electricity for the future.
Harnessing the Wind
- Wind is created by the sun heating the Earth's surface unevenly, resulting in areas of high and low pressure.
- Wind turbines transform the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, then into electrical energy.
How Wind Turbines Work
- Wind blows across the blades of the turbine, causing them to turn.
- The spinning motion is converted into mechanical energy, then into electrical energy through a generator.
- The electrical energy is transferred to power lines as electricity.
Wind Turbine Design
- Wind speed for larger turbines needs to be about 7-9 miles per hour, while smaller turbines need less.
- The wind needs to be consistent and sustained, and turbines need to be tall enough to catch wind that has not been interrupted by obstacles.
Wind Farms
- Wind farms are collections of many wind turbines located in one area.
- They can produce a significant amount of electricity, with hundreds to thousands of turbines in one wind farm.
- Wind farms must be located in areas with consistent, predictable winds.
Off-Shore Wind Farms
- Off-shore wind farms are located in the ocean, where winds are more consistent, predictable, and stronger.
- They can produce more energy than on-shore wind farms, but are often more expensive to build.
Pros of Wind Energy
- Wind energy is a clean, renewable energy source.
- No greenhouse gases or pollution are produced during operation.
- Land surrounding turbines can still be used for farming.
- Low operating costs once turbines are installed.
- Many jobs are created in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining wind turbines.
Cons of Wind Energy
- Wind can be inconsistent and unpredictable, leading to inconsistent energy production.
- Geographic areas suitable for wind farms are limited and often in rural areas.
- Wind energy systems are expensive to make and install.
- Some people find wind turbines noisy and unattractive.
- Birds and bats can be killed by turbine blades.
Wind Turbine Pros and Cons
- Wind turbines produce renewable, clean energy.
- They require very little ground space.
- They create many job opportunities.
- They are cost-effective once operational.
- They can be noisy and unattractive.
- They can harm birds and bats.
Wind Farm Pros and Cons
- Wind farms can produce a great deal of clean, renewable energy.
- They reduce dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels.
- They provide income to farmers leasing land for turbines.
- They provide numerous job opportunities.
- They can be noisy and visually unappealing.
- Some people do not want wind farms located nearby.
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Description
Explore the importance of electricity in our daily lives and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy as a sustainable alternative.
