Question

(a)What is wind? What type of energy is possessed by the wind?
(b) Explain how wind energy can be used to generate electricity. Illustrate your answer with the help of a labeled diagram.
(c) State two advantages of using wind energy for generating electricity.
(d) mention two limitations of wind energy for generating electricity.

Answer 1

Hint: The wind is the flow of gases on a huge scale. Winds are generally divided by their spatial scale, their velocity, the types of forces that cause them, the regions in which they occur, and their effect.
Kinetic energy is portrayed because of the energy possessed by a body by its movement. Winds have the energy to maneuver the blades of a windmill to provide electricity.

Complete step-by-step solution:
> The wind is the movement of air by the irregular heating of the earth by the sun and also the Earth's own rotation. On the Earth's surface, wind contains the bulk movement of air.
> Kinetic Energy is possessed by the wind. When the wind moves very fast, it strikes the wind turbine and it starts rotating. Hence, the kinetic energy is transferred into mechanical energy.
> The fast-moving wind attacks the wind turbine and then the turbine starts rotating. The shaft of the turbine also moves around and affects the generator that produces electricity.
The labeled diagram:

Two Advantages of using wind energy for generating electricity:
> Wind energy doesn't create air pollution as power plants do that rely on the combustion of fossil fuels e.g. coal or natural gas. These gases emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide that cause health problems and financial damages. Wind turbines don't make atmospheric emissions which are the cause of acid rain, smog, or greenhouse gases.
> It is sustainable. The wind is a type of solar energy. Winds are generated by the heating of nature by the sun, the movement of the Earth, and the surface of earth irregularities. hence For as long as the sun gives light and the wind moves, the energy will be produced by the wind.
Two limitations of wind energy for generating electricity:
> The speed of the wind fluctuates. Since consistency in speed is necessary, this fluctuation is not suitable for getting stable energy. It can not be controlled.
> Wind turbines need huge money as initial capital. Many activities have been done to bring down the cost of installing turbines; the total costs, however, remain on the bigger side.

Note: In the olden days, the wind was used for grinding grains and pumping up water for domestic activities. Nowadays, it converts large wind turbines to create energy that is converted into electricity. The modern wind turbines may have different technology, but the principle of work is similar; they both hold wind energy to generate electricity.
The kinetic energy is converted into mechanical energy using a turbine. The mechanical energy can be utilized for numerous purposes including pumping water and grinding grain. Better still; the mechanical energy can be converted into electricity using a generator to power schools, homes, and businesses.