Wind Turbines for Energy
Big giant wind turbines surround small farming communities in Iowa allowing for natural resources to be used as a fuel.
Location
Schaller, Iowa
Driving Question
What do those wind turbines do?
Probing Questions
- Why are there so many wind turbines?
- Are they all over the world?
- Why are they found in clusters around small farming communities?
- What happens to the energy they collect? How is it used?
Classroom Suggestions
Students could:
- Research the Iowa weather and its effect on wind turbines.
- Research wind energy and energy conservation.
- Invite an engineer in to discuss the wind turbines.
Resources
- PBS LearningMedia | FIND Iowa: How a Wind Turbine Works: Wind turbines are much bigger than they seem when they are up close. Explore how the energy of motion from a spinning wind turbine creates electricity to power your home.
- FIND Iowa: Energy in Iowa | Iowa PBS: Short media series on wind energy.
Iowa Core Alignment
4-ESS3-1:Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment
Credit Info
Phenomena submitted by Valorie Grundmeier.
Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena provided by:
