Harness wind energy parallel to the ground with this horizontal turbine design. Tinker with the efficient spinning of the rotor by twisting the beams of the aerodynamic turbine blades for smooth rotations with minimal friction built up in the shaft.

Please note this resource was tailored for US schools and may require adjustments to suit UK schools.

🇬🇧 Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Materials

Begin building the wind turbine base with a bent beam

Create joints then attach to the bent beam

Make a joint for the back

Make a back beam with joint then attach to complete the base

Make a pyramid support on the turbine's base

Attach a connector through the pyramid for shaft support

Make a support beam for the shaft

Slide the support beam along the back of the pyramid

Lock the support beam with a connector

Make the shaft and slide through supports

Make rotor with 3 turbine blades by building beams and 2 support sides

Slide the straws of second side through beams then add connectors on each ends

Draw and cut out 3 paper rectangles then wrap around the supports before taping

Make beams then connect to the ends of blades

Wrap the connectors then click to secure corners

Attach the complete turbine rotor on the shaft

Secure the rotor to the end of shaft with a connector

Test the horizontal axis turbine design!

Build

STEAM Classroom

United States

Energy

Environment

Forces

Renewable Energy

Create a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine