The team was tasked with constructing a wind turbine capable of procuding electricity with only the power of wind. This task required many weeks of testing to determine the optimal design to produce the most effecient turbine possible. Alterations the team may make include the material of the blades, the angle of the blades, the number of blades, the gear ratio, etc.
Last week, the team tested three different tpyes of materials for the wind turbine: Balsa wood, cardboard, and styofoam. In these experiments, the team kept constant the blade angles, distance from fan, gear ratios, height, number of blades, and fan speed. The team also measured details about the blades such as mass, volume, denisty and flexion. They then tested the three materials of blades and measured the power outpus through arduino.
In the previous experiment, the team discovered that 15 degree angles in the blades was the most effecient angle. In the lastest experiment, the team found that styrofoam was the least effecient material because it produced the least power. They found that the wood blades produced the most power so likely the team will use that material going forward in the project.
