Harnessing Wind Power

• For this science project, you will show how to harness wind to generate electricity. Prepare for this project by studying places where wind power would be ideal. Discover what types of restrictions there might be on wind speeds in order to achieve good results. Research the basic structures of a wind turbine and use this information to create your own basic turbine. Use a simple, three-speed fan to measure RMPs at different wind speeds. If you are a younger kid, use this information to modify a pre-built turbine by trying different paddle shapes to see which ones achieve the best results.
  
  

Wind Power and the Environment

• You can research how long it takes to recoup the cost of building a wind power system.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  This science projects looks at the environmental impacts of wind energy. Look at both the benefits and risks of using wind power. Take a simple wind turbine and measure the energy output at a set wind speed. Measure this again using a larger wind turbine. Calculate how much it would cost to generate the energy through other means, such as coal. You also can research costs of building wind power systems on the market today to see how long it would take to recover the cost once the system begins generating electricity.
  
  

Wind Powered Vehicle

• This science project takes a look at using wind power to run a vehicle. You can harness wind power in two ways to power a vehicle for this project. The first method uses a wind turbine to store energy in a cell, charging it and using the cell to power a lightweight car. The second way uses the wind itself to move the vehicle. This requires a bit more creativity in building and designing your vehicle. Many types of wind-powered vehicles have raced in countries around the world, including one newer design that travels faster than wind speed. For a bigger challenge, build more than one design of your vehicle and test each one under varying wind conditions.
  
  

Wind Power as a Tool

• For this project, you can show how to harness the power of wind to accomplish tasks. For centuries, people have used wind power to assist them in their work. Choose one or two tasks to use wind power for your project. You could grind grain or coffee. Because the wind power can turn many devices, you also could use it for moving water up a wheel to an irrigation trough. Research the best methods for designing these devices in order to maximize the results.