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

Wind is able to rotate long, heavy wind turbine blades the same way wind is able to propel sailboats (and tallships!) to great speeds: enough windforce pushing against a large surface area.

Also they don’t have to do a dead start. Wind turbines have a motor that can start the blades turning, and the wind itself will keep them turning.

Also the weight of the blades are counterbalanced for ideal movement.