How could you design a wind-powered elevator?
Windmill (George W Johnson, Getty Images)
Windmill (George W Johnson, Getty Images)
How does this align with my curriculum?
Design a device that uses the power of wind to lift a small object.
Consider using the Design & Build Process with this challenge.
This activity will help build skills related to the Identify the Problem, Research, Generate Ideas, and Plan phases of this process. The optional part can help with the Create and Test & Evaluate phases as well.
Materials:
- Pencil
- Paper
Optional materials:
- Tape
- Scissors
- Recycled paper and/or sticky notes
- String
- Drinking straws
- Craft sticks
- Scrap cardboard
- Fine yarn or thread
- Pipe cleaners
- Load for testing
What to do!
Imagine you are an engineer who wants to use wind power to lift small loads. Your task is to design a device that uses energy from moving air to lift an object vertically, kind of like an elevator.
- Identify the Problem - Think about how you can use the air and what will move the load.
- Research - You might want to read the following article about wind power to get some ideas about how to convert moving air into mechanical energy.
- Generate Ideas – What kinds of parts will you need? What will move? How will it move? Where will the load go? Hint: Make a paper pinwheel and think about how you could use it as part of your design.
How to Make a Pinwheel:
Step 1: Cut out a square of paper.
Image - Text Version
Shown is a diagram of a pink square outlined in black. There is an illustration of a pair of scissors along the top edge.
Step 2: Cut towards the middle from each corner.
Image - Text Version
The square now has a diagonal black line from each corner, with a pair of scissors along the top right one. Each line ends just before the centre of the square. This is marked with a small black circle.
Step 3: Curl one point towards the middle.
Image - Text Version
One of the cut points at the top left corner of the square is curled to meet the circle in the centre of the paper.
Step 4: Curl alternating remaining point towards the centre. Fasten them to the centre with a pin or paperclip.
Image - Text Version
Shown is the finished pinwheel. Alternating points are fastened to the centre of the paper with a pin. The points in between have been left to stretch out to the corners of the original square.
- Plan – Which ideas are your best? How will you show people what your device looks like and how it works?
Optional challenge:
Build your wind-powered elevator! The elevator should only use energy from moving air to lift the load.
Discovery
Moving air is an important source of energy. It is in action all over the place! It makes kites fly and sailboats sail. Even your breath can spin a pinwheel.
Historically, windmills have been used to pump water and grind grain. Modern wind turbines are basically sleek, high-tech windmills.
Windmills convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. This is used to move parts like paddles or grinding stones. Wind turbines also convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. In this case, it is used to move parts of a generator to create electricity.
Image - Text Version
Shown is a colour photograph of a windmill on top of a hill. The windmill is made of wood with a small brick building at the base. It has long white blades with strips of wooden lattice attached. A staircase leads from the ground to back of the structure where the blades are mounted. The landscape around is rolling green hills with patches of dark green trees. The sky above is streaked with blue, white, grey, and gold.
- How could you change your design to lift heavier objects? What about lifting multiple objects at the same time?
- If you scaled up your design for a real-life construction company, what materials would you use? What other factors should you think about?
- What other wind-powered things can you design and build?
- Check out this episode of the Solutioneers to learn more about renewable energy and see some examples of completed wind-powered elevators.
What’s happening?
Moving air is an important source of energy. It is in action all over the place! It makes kites fly and sailboats sail. Even your breath can spin a pinwheel.
Why does it matter?
Historically, windmills have been used to pump water and grind grain. Modern wind turbines are basically sleek, high-tech windmills.
Windmills convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. This is used to move parts like paddles or grinding stones. Wind turbines also convert kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. In this case, it is used to move parts of a generator to create electricity.
Image - Text Version
Shown is a colour photograph of a windmill on top of a hill. The windmill is made of wood with a small brick building at the base. It has long white blades with strips of wooden lattice attached. A staircase leads from the ground to back of the structure where the blades are mounted. The landscape around is rolling green hills with patches of dark green trees. The sky above is streaked with blue, white, grey, and gold.
Investigate further!
- How could you change your design to lift heavier objects? What about lifting multiple objects at the same time?
- If you scaled up your design for a real-life construction company, what materials would you use? What other factors should you think about?
- What other wind-powered things can you design and build?
- Check out this episode of the Solutioneers to learn more about renewable energy and see some examples of completed wind-powered elevators.