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How can wind energy move a boat? - Summary
Wind is a powerful renewable source of energy that can be used in many different ways. In this KS1 video from The Regenerators, Change Champs Liv and Alexander meet sailing expert Quinn to discover how wind moves boats and how wind turbines can generate electricity. They also design and test their own wind-powered model boats.
In this video, students will learn:
- What renewable energy is.
- Why wind is a renewable source of energy.
- How wind can be used to move sailing boats.
- How wind turbines generate energy.
- How to investigate which materials float and sink.
Classroom video - Energy
Making a wind-powered model boat
The Change Champs are a team of children who like to learn about the world around them. In each video, the Change Champs meet an expert who sets them an exciting challenge.
Join Liv and Alexander as they meet up with Quinn at Chew Valley Lake to learn about how wind energy can move a boat.
Olivia: I'm Liv and this is Alexander.
Alexander: Hello.
Olivia: We are Change Champs and we are at the Chew Valley Lake in Somerset.
Wind is a great source of energy because it is renewable which means it will not run out. We are here to meet a very special friend who knows all about wind energy. This is Quinn. He loves boats and has been sailing for a long time… He even teaches people how to race boats.
Olivia: Why is wind important to you as a sailor?
Quinn: Well, when you can travel by sailing boat, the wind blows into the sails which moves the boat across the water… but do you know why it's particularly good to use wind power?
Olivia: Is it because it doesn't cost anything?
Alexander: It will not run out.
Quinn: Yes, Alexander. It won't run out. We call the wind a 'renewable' source of energy, because it won't run out. We can use the wind to turn wind turbines to generate energy and also power these boats.
Olivia: Wow.
Quinn: Would you like to have a go at making your own sailboat to see how easily they are powered by the wind?
Alexander: Yeah.
Olivia: We're going to look at materials to see what will float and what will sink. Do you think its gonna float?
Alexander: Yeah.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS)
(INDISTINCT)
Olivia: What about the wood?
Alexander: Wood… Float.
Olivia: Do you want to put the apple in?
Quinn: Here you go. How about that. There you go, it's floating.
Olivia: We decide to use our apples, paper sails and little sticks. We start with half an apple each. Here comes the fun part. We put our little stick into the sail which will be a strong mast keeping the boats stable in the wind. Then we carefully push it into the middle of the apple. Now our boats ready to be powered by some wind.
Quinn: Looks like your apple boats are ready to hit the waves but instead of using that big lake, should we use this?
Alexander: Yes.
Quinn: First, do you know what this is?
Olivia: Its the finishing line.
Quinn: Yeah.
Olivia: On your mark, get set, go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS)
Alexander: Go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES)
Olivia: Yay!
Quinn, thank you so much for teaching us how good it is to use wind to power things.
Quinn: You're very welcome guys.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Quick facts about wind energy
- Wind is a renewable source of energy, which means it will not run out.
- Wind can be used to move sailing boats across the water.
- Wind turbines use the power of moving air to generate electricity.
- Different materials float or sink depending on their properties.
- Sails catch the wind and help move a boat.
Let's discuss: What other things can be powered by renewable energy?
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