How do windmills make electricity?

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How do windmills make electricity?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-07T18:05:10

The kinetic energy of the air molecules hitting the fan blades are turned into electrical energy.

Explanation:

According to this booklet in table 8.1 the power output of a wind turbine is given by:

$P = (\frac{1}{2}) A ρ v^{3}$ $P=(1/2)Arhov^3$

$A$ $A$ = Area created by the turbine blades (using the blade length as the radius)
$ρ$ $rho$ = the air density (in kg)
$v$ $v$ = the speed of the wind

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$E_{k} = (\frac{1}{2}) m v^{2}$ $E_k=(1/2)mv^2$

The formula for kinetic energy.

This is because the wind turbine is based on using kinetic energy. A wind turbine's energy output is determined by how many air molecules are hitting it at a given instance and with what speed- their kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the air molecules is transferred to the turbine blades, which gives the blades kinetic energy. In turn, they transfer their kinetic energy to a generator or alike, which can produce electrical energy.

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How do windmills make electricity?

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