Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM STEAM Projects and Why They Work (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids) by Chatterton Crystal

Author:Chatterton, Crystal [Chatterton, Crystal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Published: 2018-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

WINDMILL CHALLENGE

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: EASY

FROM BEGINNING TO END: 40 MINUTES

OTHER CATEGORIES: ENGINEERING

A windmill is a machine that converts energy from the wind into useful work by rotating. Can you design a windmill that will do work?

MATERIALS

Square piece of paper

Hole puncher

Scissors

Tape

Drinking straw

String

Paperclip

Wooden skewer

THE STEPS

1 . Fold the piece of paper in half diagonally (corner to corner). Unfold it and then fold it again diagonally the other direction.

2 . Use a hole puncher to punch a hole in the center of the paper, right where the 2 creases intersect.

3 . Use scissors to cut along the fold lines, stopping about ½ inch from the hole.

4 . Bring every other point toward the center, right before the edge of the hole. Attach the 4 points there with tape.

5 . Insert a straw through the center hole. Attach the pinwheel to the middle of the straw with tape.

6 . Cut a piece of string about 2 feet long. Tape one end of the string to one end of the straw. Tie the other end of the string to a paperclip.

7 . Insert a wooden skewer through the straw. Make sure the wooden skewer is longer than the straw and sticks out the ends.

8 . Hold the ends of the wooden skewer and blow on the wheel. If nothing happens, try turning the windmill around and blowing on the other side.

Observations What happens when you blow on the windmill? Does it convert wind into work?

Now Try This! Try making the wheel from different kinds of paper and see which one works the most efficiently. Use heavier paper, like cardboard or card stock, and lighter paper, like tissue paper or printer paper, to compare how they each work to rotate the windmill.

The Hows and Whys In physics, work is done when an object is moved by a force over some distance. Windmills perform work by powering a generator that produces electricity through their rotation in the wind. Your windmill performs work by lifting the paperclip when you blow on the sails.

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