See the Wind

The goal of this activity from the U.S. Department of Energy is to help students see the difference in the speed and smoothness of the wind at different altitudes above the earth. This is important for wind engineers as they seek to place their wind turbines in the fastest and smoothest winds possible. It is also a major reason that wind turbines are getting larger and higher in the sky, and is why we are starting to see wind turbines in the plains and out in the ocean near the coast. Teacher background and assessment sheets are provided.