This video was created in partnership with Bill Gates, inspired by his new book “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.” Find out more here: https://gatesnot.es/3u7UUVU

This video is about how physics dictates the design of modern windmills - why they are so big, have so few blades, and have such skinny blades.

REFERENCES
H. Glauert: Aerodynamic Theory, 1935 Division L (Airplane Propellers), Chapter XI: Windmills and Fans

Wind power extraction fundamentals
https://home.uni-leipzig.de/energy/en...

Betz's Law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betz%27...

Tip Speed Ratio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip-spe...

Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines Book
https://www.amazon.com/Aerodynamics-W...

Penn State Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Lesson
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/aersp...

Wind Power Physics youtube video
   • Wind Power Physics  

Why do Wind Turbines Have Three Blades?
  / why-do-wind-turbines-usually-have-3-blades  

Wind Power Fundamentals
http://web.mit.edu/windenergy/windwee...

Wind Power Explained
https://www.calcunation.com/blogs.php...

Drag Coefficient
http://dx.doi.org/10.1615/AtoZ.d.drag...

Reynolds Number and Drag
http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~mpj1001/le...

Reynolds Number
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynold...

Viscosity of Air
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosi...



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Minute Physics provides an energetic and entertaining view of old and new problems in physics -- all in a minute!

Created by Henry Reich