#  >> K-12 >> K-12 For Educators

How to Make a Miniature Windmill That Creates Electricity

Students are often asked to participate in science fairs that challenge them to create projects to display skills that they have learned. Building a mini-windmill will help students understand how full-sized windmills work to produce energy. Students will also learn to better understand environmental protection practices by becoming more aware of ways to use natural resources to produce power. Building a mini-windmill requires time, patience and items that can be purchased at a local hardware store.

Things You'll Need

  • Pinwheel flower decoration
  • 4 thread spools
  • 2 plastic sheets
  • Glue
  • Electric drill
  • Metal rod
  • 2 spacer and magnet kits
  • Pin clip
  • Magnetic wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Light bulb
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the propellor from a large pinwheel flower decoration and set it aside.

    • 2

      Place four thread spools on top of a plastic sheet. Position one spool at each corner of the sheet. Glue the second plastic sheet on top of the spools.

    • 3

      Drill a hole into the middle of the top plastic sheet that also penetrates the bottom plastic sheet. If your drill bit is not long enough, mark the location that the hole is to be drilled on each sheet and drill one side at a time.

    • 4

      Assemble magnets and spacers based on the information provided in their kits. Position one assembled magnet and space kit over each hole and insert the metal rod through them to connect them. Allow 1/2 inch of rod to extend from either end. Place a pin clip on one side of the rod.

    • 5

      Wrap the four spools together with insulated magnetic wire 225-300 times.

    • 6

      Glue the propeller to the end of the metal rod that does not have the pin clip attached to it.

    • 7

      Cut away 1/2 inch of wire insulation from the end of the wire that you wrapped around the spools using wire cutters. Avoid cutting the wires themselves. Wrap the uncovered ends of the wire around the base of a light bulb.

    • 8

      Place the windmill in a place where it can get a steady amount of wind or spin it manually. Observe to see if the light bulb comes on when the windmill spins.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved