Chapter 13, Problem 1CR

To determine

The potential for using renewable energy from wind power to produce most of the electricity used in the United States.

Answer to Problem 1CR

The difference in the solar energy at equator and poles of the earth results in the creation of winds. Wind turbines can capture the energy of the winds and can convert into electricity. Wind farms are built in the United States, in which a wind turbine is placed. Farmers get the money for allowing the government to place a wind turbine in their landforms. In the United States, many such turbines are located in wind farms which produces electricity on a large scale.

Explanation of Solution

Wind power provides an enormous potential to the United States to produce electricity. Some of the characteristics of winds are that it is inexhaustible, abundant, and it is distributed everywhere. The power that is produced by the wind is pollution free, and carbon elements are also not involved in it. Sunrays strike the Polar Regions and equator of the earth at different angles. At the equator of the earth, more solar energy is reached than the Polar Regions. These difference in solar energy in both regions forms the wind. The energy of the winds can be captured by the wind turbines. In the United States, wind farms are built, and these farms cover a large area of the land. Wind turbines need a small area of the wind farm to produce electricity. Therefore, for locating a wind turbine, 10,000 dollars are rewarded to the landowner, and they can also use the remaining land for growing their crops. A typical wind turbine generates electricity that can fulfill the demand of electricity for more than a thousand homes. Many such farms are there in the United States which help this country to produce electricity on a large scale.