Turbine

energy · machines · power generation · physics

Spinning to work. A turbine has blades attached to a shaft that spin when air, water, or steam pushes against them. As the blades turn faster and faster, they create rotational energy that can be used to do useful work.

Fluids make it go. Turbines work with moving fluids like wind, water, or steam. The faster the fluid moves, the more power it can give to spin the turbine's blades.

From spin to power. When a turbine connects to a generator, that spinning motion gets converted into electricity. Most of the electricity we use in our homes comes from turbines powered by water, wind, or steam.

Built for strength. Turbine blades are specially designed and shaped to catch the most energy from moving fluid. Engineers carefully curve and angle each blade so it captures power as efficiently as possible.

Everywhere we look. Turbines power our world in many ways, from wind turbines on hillsides to water turbines in dams to jet engines on airplanes.