Wind Energy - I seem to remeber being taught that all energy is either Potential, Kinetic or Chemical and that

Question

"Energy cannot be created or destroyed, merely change form" or something along those lines.
My questions are
1) Is the Wind classified as an energy? If so, is it kinetic?
2) How is the WInd created? From what other form of energy is it changed from?

Answer 1

1) the wind: Wind is simply air (the molecules of air) that are moving; in other words wind is air with kinetic energy.
2) Wind is created by solar energy. In its simplest form, the sun heats up different parts of the earths surface at different rates. This in turn heats the air. The air gets hotter and expands, or cools and contracts, forming areas of high pressure vs. low pressure). The air flows from high pressure to low pressure; hence we get wind.

Answer 2

Energy has different forms. Energy possesed due to the motion of an object is Kinetic energy. If the same object is stationery but above ground level, the height gives is potential energy. If you mix two chemicals and they react to form a new compound, the energy released is chemical energy. If an organism uses energy stored in its cells to produce luminecense, its biological energy.

And yes, energy can be created and it dissipates too. If you burn wood, you are just releasing chemical energy but if you cause a nuclear reaction, you are creating energy. And as energy changes form, its usefulness decreases.

To come to your Q, wind energy is a form of kinetic energy caused due to the motion of air(air currents). Wind is caused due to the circulation or air between hot and cold regions of the atmosphere.

Wanna create a simple experiment? take a long tub of water and heat it at one end. DO NOT mix the water. After a min add a few drops of ink or some light dye. You will be able to see currents in the water.

Where does wind get its energy from? Thats a little complex, but I will try and put it in simple words. Heat has a tendency to spread to all substances that are in contact (A spoon in hot water becomes hot). In solids the molecules are packed so tightly that they cannot cause currents to distribute the heat, but in liquids and gases they can. Thus when air is heated, the molecules start moving very fast bcoz of the heat energy and in turn hit other molecules who get a part of this energy. Thus more and more molecules start moving and currents are created.

Have more Qs? ask again ;-)

Answer 3

Something is motion has kinetic energy. That is why a bullet can knock you down. What is wind? Just molecules of air in motion. So it has kinetic energy, and if it is blowing hard enough, it can knock you down too.

How is wind created? By anything that can cause air to move. A wind tunnel uses big propellers to push air past a model plane to test its aerodynamics. A thundercloud can cause wind by having a lot of rain falling down and pushing the air out of the way. The sun can heat the ground and warm air rising can cause a wind. A big explosion can cause a wind to blow away from the blast.

Wind can be derived from any energy source or any energy type.

;-D Was I too long winded? Never mind. I am too hot to continue. How about fanning me for a while, since I could use a little cool breeze about now...

Answer 4

1) Wind has kinetic energy, it moves and this energy is made useful with the use of wind turbines which can generate electricity

2) Wind is created by changes in pressure in the atmoshpere and also rotation of the earth about its axis and around the sun.
Just as clouds form by water vapour moving from an area of high pressure to low pressure, warm air rises, the wind moves from higher pressure regions to areas of lower pressure. I would say the wind energy source is kinetic energy from the earth spinning and rotating and also heat energy in the form of radiation from the sun.

Answer 5

1) the wind isn't an energy it is acted on by a force so probably kinetic (the energy behind each individual air molecule)
2) temperature, pressure, and water density changes in the atmosphere.

Answer 6

Yes the air flow called wind has kinetic energy.

The wind derives from heat energy from the sun and the rotation of the earth.

Answer 7

Wind comprises of energy charged air molecules, when they hit the surface of a turbine this energy is transferred, the turbine moves and creates kinetic energy...

Sounds good but could be complete cobblers...

Answer 8

1) Yes, wind is kinetic energy (moving air)
2) Ultimately, it is produced from heat energy from the sun, warming certain parts of the earth, causing air currents from the ocean, off of mountains, all different places.

Answer 9

Wind itself is not an energy.It only makes use of energy to move,that's kinetic energy.

Answer 10

yep - wind is kinetic energy

created by changes in atmospheric pressure - these being caused by changes in temperature.

So basically Wind energy is derived from fluctuations in thermal energy.