AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Wind Energy
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the initial form of energy that a wind turbine harnesses?
Wind turbines use the kinetic energy of moving air to generate electricity.
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What is the initial form of energy that a wind turbine harnesses?
Wind turbines use the kinetic energy of moving air to generate electricity.
Explain the paradox of wind energy being 'clean' yet still having a negative effect on the environment.
While wind energy is clean because it doesn't produce air pollutants, it can still harm the environment by causing the deaths of wildlife like birds and bats.
What is a significant negative environmental impact of using wind turbines?
Birds and bats may be killed if they fly into the spinning turbine blades.
Identify two primary benefits of wind energy as a power source.
Wind energy is a renewable and clean source of energy.
An environmental impact assessment for a new wind farm is being conducted. What specific threat to local fauna must be considered?
The assessment must consider the risk that birds and bats may be killed by flying into the spinning turbine blades.
What is the function of the generator in a wind turbine?
The generator is spun by the turbine and is the component that actually produces the electricity.
What component of a wind turbine is spun directly by the moving air?
The turbine, which consists of the large blades, is spun by the kinetic energy of moving air.
A town is debating the pros and cons of installing wind turbines. What is one key environmental 'pro' and one key 'con' they should discuss?
A key pro is that wind energy is a clean and renewable resource. A key con is the potential for the turbines to kill birds and bats.
Describe the basic process of how a wind turbine generates electricity.
The kinetic energy of moving air spins a turbine, which then spins a generator to produce electricity.
Trace the energy transformations that occur within a wind turbine to produce electricity.
Kinetic energy from the wind is converted to mechanical energy in the spinning turbine, which is then converted to electrical energy by the generator.