Question

In order to generate electricity, a wind turbine must take the energy from the wind and convert it to electrical energy. To make this conversion possible, every wind turbine has a generator as seen in the diagrams below.


Suzy is planning an investigation to determine the different factors that will impact the amount of electricity that is generated.
Which of the following could increase the amount of electricity generated by a wind turbine? Select three that apply.
A.
Increase the speed of the blades and the rotor
B.
Decrease the speed of the blades and the rotor
C.
Increase the number of magnets
D.
Decrease the number of magnets
E.
Increase the length of the copper wire in the coil
F.
Decrease the length of the copper wire in the coil

Answer 1

A, C, and E.

Brief reasons:
- A: Faster blade/rotor speed increases the rate of change of magnetic flux, raising the induced voltage/current.
- C: More magnets (or stronger magnets) increase magnetic flux through the coil, increasing induced emf.
- E: Longer wire (more turns) in the coil increases N in Faraday’s law (emf ∝ N dΦ/dt), producing more electricity.