GCSE Standard Questions: The Generator

(Electromagnetic Induction)

Q5. A student investigated how the output voltage of a model wind turbine was affected by the number of turbine blades.

The equipment he used is shown in the diagram below.

 

(a) Suggest two factors, other than the number of turbine blades, that will affect the output voltage of the model wind turbine.

[2 marks]

(b) Some of the student's results are shown in the graph below.

(i) Plot the remaining results on the graph using the data in this table.

 

Number of turbine blades
Output voltage in volts
5
0.39
7
0.50
8
0.56

[2 marks]

(ii) The output voltage for 6 turbine blades is lower than expected. The low value was caused by a measurement error. State the name of this type of measurement error.

[1 mark]

(iii) What two conclusions can be made from the student's results as the number of blades is increased from 1 to 4?

[2 marks]

(c) Commercial wind turbines can be manufactured with a number of blades between 2 and 8. Suggest two factors that manufacturers would need to consider when designing and constructing commercial wind turbines.

[2 marks]

(Total 9 marks)