If wind turbine blades are so long and heavy, how is the wind able to rotate them?

Question

If wind turbine blades are so long and heavy, how is the wind able to rotate them?

In: 5

Answer 1

Think of a pulley with equal weight on both sides, kinda like an elevator with its counter balance.

When the elevator (wind turbine) moves, the motor (wind) doesn’t have to lift the full weight of the elevator (blades). The majority of that weight is already balanced by the counter balance (other turbine blades).

The motor (wind) just has to apply enough force to move the balanced weight not actually lift it.

Some (usually larger) wind turbines use electric motors to first get the blades moving so the wind only has to keep it moving and not start it from standstill.