Wind Power

Wind Power — page 1 — your mission Your mission is to explore wind power as an energy source Energy from wind can keep our cities and homes humming with the electricity you use every day But how can the breeze you feel at the park turn on the lights in your house How can it power your computer What effects does wind energy have on the environment Review the facts in What You Know Then read on to learn more about the exciting world of wind energy what you know (cid:204) Today more than 80 percent of the energy produced in the United States comes from nonrenewable sources such as fossil fuels (cid:204) Fossil fuels can have negative effects on the environment and they will eventually run out (cid:204) Wind is a limitless clean and renewable source of power (cid:204) Wind farms use turbines to turn the power of wind into electricity 4

Wind Power — page 2 — (cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:68)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:1) (cid:46)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:90) (cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:80)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:70) (cid:67) (cid:77)(cid:74) (cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:1) (cid:74)(cid:78)(cid:81)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:69)(cid:86)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:15) (cid:69) (cid:77) (cid:204) While the supply of wind is unlimited the strength of wind changes (cid:204) Despite wind’s limitations most energy experts agree wind has an important place in our energy future Anthony Washington is writing a book on alternative energy sources He’s starting with wind Follow him as he travels around the world to visit sites and interview scientists in the field Carry out your own mission by reading his field notes 5

Wind Power — page 3 — (cid:47)(cid:80)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:23)(cid:27) Catching The Breeze I begin my investigation at a lake in my town It’s a warm breezy day Many families are out enjoying the sunshine Sailboats stream across the lake racing faster with each gust of wind Children watch their kites soar high in the sky I can see the power of the wind all around me To get started on my wind investigation I’m meeting with Jack Doyle Jack is a meteorologist He studies the earth’s atmosphere and weather I’m hoping he can get me started with my research by telling me a little bit about wind energy and how the wind works Right now more than 80 percent of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels Jack begins Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere Carbon dioxide traps the sun’s heat Over time this can lead to climate change Fossil fuels are also a limited resource The more we use the less we have The less we have the more fossil fuels cost Right now fossil fuels are pretty inexpensive But as we use up our fossil fuels supply prices will go up Jack explains that wind is an attractive energy source because it is completely renewable It will never run out How exactly does the wind work I ask 6

Wind Power — page 4 — (cid:85)(cid:73) (cid:58)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:1)(cid:86)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:195)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:1) (cid:58) (cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:90)(cid:1) (cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:90)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:15) (cid:69)(cid:195) Jack says wind is created by the sun heating the earth’s atmosphere When the sun heats the atmosphere the hot air rises very quickly Cooler air rushes in to take the place of the rising hot air This creates wind Jack tells me currents of air swirl around our planet Sometimes these currents of air are gentle breezes Sometimes they are fierce gusts Hills mountains valleys 7

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