Question
The blades of a windmill sweep out a circle of area A.
(a) If the wind flows at a velocity v perpendicular to the circle, what is the mass of the air passing through it in time t?
(b) What is the kinetic energy of the air?
(c) Assume that the windmill converts 25% of the wind’s energy into electrical energy, and that A = 30 m2, v = 36 km/h and the density of air is 1.2 kg m–3.
What is the electrical power produced?
Solution
Given,
Area of the circle swept by the windmill = A
Velocity of the wind = vArea of the circle swept by the windmill = A
Density of air = ρ
(a) Volume of the wind flowing through the windmill per sec = Av
Mass of the wind flowing through the windmill per sec = ρAv
Mass m, of the wind flowing through the windmill in time t = ρAvt
(b) Kinetic energy of air =
mv2 =
(ρAvt)v2 = (1/2)ρAv3t
(c) Area of the circle swept by the windmill, A = 30 m2
Velocity of the wind = v = 36 km/h
Density of air, ρ = 1.2 kg m–3
Electric energy produced = 25% of the wind energy
= (
) × Kinetic energy of air
=
ρ A v3t
Electrical power =
=
ρ A v3t / t
=
ρ A v3
=
× 1.2 × 30 × (10)3
= 4.5 kW
(c) Area of the circle swept by the windmill, A = 30 m2
Velocity of the wind = v = 36 km/h
Density of air, ρ = 1.2 kg m–3
Electric energy produced = 25% of the wind energy
= (
) × Kinetic energy of air=
ρ A v3t Electrical power =
=
ρ A v3t / t=
ρ A v3=
× 1.2 × 30 × (10)3= 4.5 kW
