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How do wind turbines work? - Rebecca J. Barthelmie and Sara C. Pryor

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TEDEd Animation

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Every 24 hours, wind generates enough kinetic energy to produce roughly 35 times more electricity than humanity uses each day. And unlike coal or oil, this resource is totally renewed each day. So how can we harness this incredible amount of energy, and is it possible to create a world powered entirely by wind? Rebecca Barthelmie and Sara Pryor dig into the science of wind turbine technology.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Wind energy is a really important contributor to developing our low-carbon future. Get the free book or watch the video to learn more. Explore the science of wind energy and where wind farms are in the US. To look at European side and see how many wind turbines were operating day by day in Europe, visit Wind Europe. If you love wind energy maps and data and statistics and reports then find out more here. Want to have a go at building your own wind turbines? Learn more with TRYEngineering. To dive more into the world of wind turbines, take a virtual tour of a wind farm here or try climbing a wind turbine here.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Rebecca J. Barthelmie, Sara C. Pryor
  • Director Gavin Edwards
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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