Science of Wind – Bell Ringer
Summary
Three thought-provoking bell ringers designed for high school students with some prior energy knowledge. Prompts compare wind to traditional electricity sources, ask students to weigh onshore vs. offshore trade-offs for a specific location, and challenge them to brainstorm reliability solutions for intermittent power. Sets up a technical, inquiry-driven lesson.
Think about how we commonly produce electricity (like with coal or natural gas). List as many things as you can think of that makes wind energy different from these traditional sources.
If you lived in a coastal city on the plains, and needed to choose between building a wind farm on land, or an offshore wind farm, which would you choose?
Explain your reasoning.
Wind turbines make power when the wind blows, not necessarily when people use electricity. Brainstorm ways to ensure people still have reliable power when they need it.
