Flash cards

Windmill
uses the power of the wind to perform mechanical tasks like grinding grain
Wind Turbine
use the winds' energy to generate electricity
Energy
the capacity for doing work; usable power (as heat or electricity); the resources for producing
such power
Electric Power
the rate at which electrical work is done; the rate that electrical energy is being transferred and/or
transformed
Voltage
electrical "pressure"; a difference in this will allow electrical current to flow
Electric Current
a measure of the rate at which electrical charge is flowing through a circuit
Electric Charge
a property of some matter; an object can by negatively or positively charged
Watt
unit of measure for electrical power
Ampere
unit for electric current
Volt
unit for voltage
Nuclear Power Plant
uses nuclear energy to generate electrical energy
Oil Power Plant
uses energy stored in the chemically altered remains of ancient marine plankton to generate
electricity; the fuel source is a liquid
Coal Fired Power Plant
uses energy stored in the chemically altered remains of ancient swamp plants to generate
electricity
Natural Gas Power Plant
uses energy stored in the chemically altered remains of ancient marine plankton to generate
electricity; the fuel source is a gas
Solar Power
uses visible light from the sun to generate electricity
Hydroelectric Power
uses the power in moving water to generate electricity
Geothermal Power
uses heat from inside the earth to generate electricity
Lift
force that is perpendicular to the force of motion
Drag
friction of the blades against air molecules as they rotate; works against the rotation of the
blades, causing them to slow down
Torque
the rotation of a blade around a central axis due to the force of the wind on the blade
Pitch
the angle of the blades with respect to the plane of rotation
Rotor
rotating section made up of blades projecting from a hub
Gearbox
connects the low speed shaft to the high speed shaft
Nacelle
the piece at the top of the wind turbine that holds the rotor and other important parts
Generator
transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy
Rotor Solidity
Measurement of how "solid" the rotor is; high= does not have a lot of space between blades;
low= fewer blades and more empty space
Low Speed Shaft
connected to the rotor and spins at a low speed
High Speed Shaft
turns at a fast speed and drives the generator