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Resource Key
Resource Level
We have graded each source in this Research Guide according to the following levels.
Level 1
Brief, easy to read information which may be basic and use informal language. Newspaper articles are generally this level.
Level 2
Generally includes subject-specific language, provides additional reading and may provide additional background information.
Level 3
Typically, these will be longer in length, detailed and contain technical information.
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Hypothesis (Science)
What Is a Hypothesis? (Science)
A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for an observation.
In science, a hypothesis is part of the scientific method. It is a prediction or explanation hat is developed from prior understanding and research and then tested by an experiment. Observations and experiments may disprove a scientific hypothesis, but can never entirely prove one.
Writing a Hypothesis
Most scientific hypotheses are proposed in the if-then format because it's easy to design an experiment to see whether or not a cause and effect relationship exists between the independent variable and the dependent variable. The hypothesis is written as a prediction of the outcome of the experiment.
Example of a Hypothesis
Examples of a hypothesis include:
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If you drop a rock and a feather, (then) they will fall at the same rate.
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Plants need sunlight in order to live. (If plants are exposed to sunlight, then they will grow and thrive)
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Eating sugar gives you energy. (If a person eats sugar before exercise, then the person will have energy to burn)
Helmenstine, A. M., & Ph.D. (n.d.). What is a hypothesis?. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-hypothesis-609092
- How to write a hypothesis
Includes:
1. What is a hypothesis?
2. Developing a hypothesis
3. Hypothesis examples
A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested by scientific research. If you want to test a relationship between two or more things, you need to write hypotheses before you start your experiment or data collection.
Wind Power- general
Wind Power- General Information
- Wind Power- Research StarterIncludes: Early Uses, Re-evaluation as Energy Source, Wind-Powered Generators, Refinements to Generators, Disadvantages as an Energy Source, Advantages as an Energy Source.
Power-generating devices that use wind as an energy source are the oldest known devices engineered specifically to produce power. From ancient grain mills to today’s complex wind turbines, wind has provided humanity with a power source. As the world’s demand for energy increases at an accelerating rate, the use of wind power as a legitimate alternative energy source will also increase. - Wind Power- BritannicaWind power, form of energy conversion in which turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical or electrical energy that can be used for power.
- Wind EnergyThe ultimate source of most energy used by humans is the sun. Fossil fuels, for example, are substances in which solar energy has been converted and stored as plants or animals that have died and decayed. When energy experts look for alternative energy sources, they often search for new ways to use solar energy. Wind energy, although not technically classified as solar energy, is produced by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun.
Wind Energy refers to technology that converts the air’s motion into mechanical energy usually for electricity production. 
Wind Power in Australia
Wind Power in Australia
- Australia: Wind Turbines Bring Manufacturing Jobs To Geelong.
Wind power is creating new manufacturing jobs in Geelong with wind turbine components set to be assembled at the former Ford Motor manufacturing site. - New super-tall low-wind turbines tipped for Australia Citation metadataThe turbines have been created for use in low-wind regions such as Australia, with the 77-metre-long carbon blades requiring less wind speed to turn.
- Wind Energy and the Extinction of Eagles.
The article offers information on the concerns of Bob Brown, former leader of the Greens, over the potential impact of wind turbines on birds, especially the endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle and the white-bellied sea-eagle. Topics discussed include opposition to a proposed wind farm on Robbins Island; corruption in environmental science; and underestimation of mortality in the approval process and the monitoring of bird and bat mortalities at the Macarthur wind farm. - Wind Systems- Your Home: Australian GovernmentThe amount of renewable electricity harnessed from the wind is growing rapidly. Australia has an abundant wind resource, which, if used to generate electricity, could save significant greenhouse gas emissions. To take advantage of this resource, turbines must be installed in open sites on sufficiently tall towers.
- Wind Energy- Australian Renewable Energy Agency: Australian GovernmentIncludes: How does wind technology work?, Wind energy in Australia, How are we supporting wind projects?,
- Wind Energy Facts- Clean Energy AustraliaWind power is currently the cheapest source of large-scale renewable energy. It involves generating electricity from the naturally occurring power of the wind. Wind turbines capture wind energy within the area swept by their blades. The spinning blades drive an electrical generator that produces electricity for export to the grid.
- Wind Energy Projects in Australia- ACCIONAACCIONA is a global leader in sustainable solutions for infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Since establishing a presence in Australia in 2002, ACCIONA has invested more than AUD$1 billion through local investment opportunities and project development. As a national business ACCIONA employs more than 1,000 people in its renewable energy, infrastructure and water projects across the country.
- Wind Energy Wind power in the Australian Energy MarketAbout Aneroid Energy- These pages are designed to make information about energy production within the Australian electricity grid readily accessible. The energy markets and systems in south eastern Australia are operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the data on this site is sourced from their publicly available data sets.
- A Guide to Wind Farms in AustraliaWind power is generated through wind turbines, where kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy. The propellers at the top of the tower catch the wind’s currents, which then spin gears connected to a generator. The generator is the final step, converting the power into electricity. It’s more common than not to see wind farms in high up places simply due to there being more wind at higher elevations.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power
Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power
- Wind turbines on bridges could be the next big thing in renewable energy- CosmosWind turbines could be installed under some of the biggest bridges on the road network to produce electricity, according to a study based in models and computer simulations carried out by researcher Oscar Soto and colleagues at Kingston University, in London.
- Wind farms are good for some animals- CosmosResearchers from the Indian Institute of Science have found that there are far more lizards in areas with wind turbines than elsewhere, possibly because there are four times fewer predatory birds.
- The Pros and Cons of Wind Power – Cost Effective and Environment FriendlyIn today’s world, there seems to be a growing focus on practices that are sustainable and respectful of the environment. This includes turning to forms renewable energy as alternatives to fossil fuels. One of the most well-known and visible examples of a sustainable energy source is wind power. If you’ve ever been on a road trip and seen fields full of massive wind turbines turning in the wind, chances are you were seeing wind power at work.
- Wind farms put pressure on bats- BBCBats are at risk from wind turbines, researchers have found, because the rotating blades produce a change in air pressure that can kill the mammals.
- Advantages and Challenges of Wind EnergyWind energy offers many advantages, which explains why it's one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world. Research efforts are aimed at addressing the challenges to greater use of wind energy. Read on to learn more about the benefits of wind power and some of the challenges it is working to overcome.
- Wind energy pros and consThere are advantages and disadvantages to any type of energy source, and wind energy is no different. In this article, we’ll review some of the top pros and cons of generating electricity from wind turbines.
- Pros and Cons of Wind EnergyLike solar energy, wind energy is the fastest-growing energy source in the world with the United States aiming to produce 20 percent of its electricity by wind power by 2030. There is no doubt from the fact that wind energy is going to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas in the coming decade, but to which extent can only be speculated in. It is a renewable and clean source of energy that doesn’t generate any greenhouse gases.
- Adverse health effects of industrial wind turbinesPeople who live or work in close proximity to industrial wind turbines (IWTs) have experienced symptoms that include decreased quality of life, annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, headache, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Some have also felt anger, grief, or a sense of injustice. Suggested causes of symptoms include a combination of wind turbine noise, infrasound, dirty electricity, ground current, and shadow flicker.
- The down side to wind power- Harvard GazetteAs the world begins its large-scale transition toward low-carbon energy sources, it is vital that the pros and cons of each type are well understood and the environmental impacts of renewable energy, small as they may be in comparison to coal and gas, are considered.
- Environmental Impact of Wind Energy- Alternative Energy TutorialsThe Environmental Impact of Wind Energy and Wind Turbines on rural and local communities has become surprisingly controversial and a hot topic in both the news and the press. The thought of generating electricity from a free source of energy, the wind, seems like a good idea and one positive way of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. But the generation of electricity from wind energy using large numbers of wind turbines can disrupt both landscapes and habitats, as well as the rotating turbine blades can sometimes kill birds and bats.
Wind Turbine Design
Wind Turbine Design and Technology
- Wind Turbines- BritannicaIncludes: Types, Estimating power generation, Concerns about wind turbines.
- Winds of change: Advanced simulation tools provide a platform to develop advancements in energy generation technologies.Through the use of cutting-edge simulation, software engineers are developing innovative new wind energy technology and increasing the efficiency and durability of wind turbines.
- Wind Power SystemsWind power systems are divided into 3 main groups.
• Pure wind
• Stand alone
• Grid interactive - Vortex bladelessVortex Bladeless is a vortex induced vibration resonant wind generator. It harnesses wind energy from a phenomenon of vorticity called Vortex Shedding. Basically, bladeless technology consists of a cylinder fixed vertically with an elastic rod. The cylinder oscillates on a wind range, which then generates electricity through an alternator system. In other words, it is a wind turbine which is not actually a turbine.
- Wind Turbine Blade Design, Flat or Curved- Alternative Energy TutorialsThe wind is a free energy resource, until governments put a tax on it, but the wind is also a very unpredictable and an unreliable source of energy as it is constantly changing in both strength and direction. To produce useful amounts of power, wind turbines generally need to be large and tall, but to work efficiently they also need to be well designed and engineered which makes them expensive too.
- Wind Turbine Design- Alternative Energy TutorialsAt the heart of any renewable wind power generation system is the Wind Turbine. Wind turbine designs generally comprise of a rotor, a direct current (DC) generator or an alternating current (AC) alternator which is mounted on a tower high above the ground.
- Six innovative wind turbine designsThe International Energy Association (IEA) announced last week that renewable energy capacity around the globe has eclipsed coal power for the first time ever. Wind power makes up a large percentage of global renewable energy, and with all the recent technological innovations in wind turbine design, it's no mystery that it's become the fastest-growing form of clean energy. With refined technology, engineers have developed new devices that are more efficient and safer for birds. Some wind turbines can even generate energy while the air is still.
Wind Turbines- US Department of Energy
See how wind turbines generate clean electricity from the power of the wind. Highlighted are the various parts and mechanisms of a modern wind turbine.
Energy Transformation- Wind Power
Energy Transformations in Wind Power
- Wind Energy Conversion SystemWind energy conversion systems (WECS) are designed to convert the energy of wind movement into mechanical power. With wind turbine generators, this mechanical energy is converted into electricity and in windmills this energy is used to do work such as pumping water, mill grains, or drive machinery.
- Wind Energy Conversion SystemsIncludes: 1. Wind characteristics, 2. Wind turbine (fixed and variable speed), 3. Components of WECS, 4. Types of wind turbine generators, 6. Power Converter Topologies for Wind Turbine Generators, 7. Economics of Wind Energy Conversion Systems, 8.Grid Connection.
- Wind Energy Theory- STELRA wind turbine transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy.
How do wind turbines generate electricity?
Wind turbines generate electricity from kinetic energy in wind. But how do they do it, what components are required? In this episode in our 60 second series we show how wind turbines work by giving a quick overview of the components that are needed. From the sensors that collect wind data to the electric amplifiers that are needed to connect the turbines to the grid.