Windmill (disambiguation) facts for kids

A windmill is a special machine that uses the power of the wind to create energy. Imagine giant sails or blades spinning in the breeze! These machines are often built into large, tall buildings.

Long ago, windmills were very important. They helped people do many jobs, like grinding grain into flour or pumping water. They were like the engines of their time, but powered by nature.

What is a Windmill?

A windmill is a structure that converts the energy of the wind into useful power. It does this by using large blades, called sails or rotors, that are pushed by the wind. As the blades spin, they turn a shaft inside the building. This spinning shaft can then power different types of machinery.

How Windmills Work

Windmills work using a simple idea: wind pushes the blades, making them spin. These spinning blades are connected to a central shaft. This shaft then turns gears or other parts inside the mill.

For example, in a traditional flour mill, the spinning shaft would turn large grinding stones. These stones would crush wheat or corn into flour. In other windmills, the power might be used to pump water out of the ground or from low-lying areas.

Parts of a Windmill

Most windmills have a few main parts:

• Blades or Sails: These are the large parts that catch the wind. They are designed to be pushed by the wind's force.
• Rotor: This is the whole spinning part, including the blades and the hub they are attached to.
• Shaft: A long rod that connects the rotor to the machinery inside. When the rotor spins, the shaft spins too.
• Gears: These are wheels with teeth that help transfer the power from the shaft to the working parts, often changing the speed or direction of the power.
• Tower or Building: This supports the blades and houses the machinery. It also protects the parts from weather.

Types of Traditional Windmills

Over hundreds of years, different types of windmills were built. Each design had its own way of catching the wind and using its power.

Post Mills

The post mill is one of the oldest types of windmills. In this design, the entire body of the mill, which holds all the machinery, can turn on a large central post. This allowed the miller to point the sails into the wind, no matter which way it was blowing. They look like a small house balanced on a big pole.

Smock Mills

Smock mills are shaped like a traditional farmer's smock, which is a loose-fitting shirt. They have a wide base that gets narrower towards the top. Only the cap, or top part, of the mill turns to face the wind. This design made them more stable and allowed them to be taller than post mills.

Tower Mills

Tower mills are usually built from brick or stone, making them very strong and tall. Like smock mills, only the cap at the very top rotates to catch the wind. Their strong structure meant they could have larger sails and produce more power. Many tower mills still stand today, some even used as homes!

Windmills Beyond Power

The word "windmill" isn't just about machines that use wind for power. It can also describe other things!

Windmill in Breakdancing

The windmill is a super cool and famous move in breakdancing. In this move, a dancer spins their body around on the floor, usually on their head or shoulders, with their legs spinning in a circle like the blades of a windmill. It takes a lot of practice and strength to do!

Windmill in Chess

In the game of chess, a "windmill" is a special series of moves. It's a clever trick where one player uses a combination of checks and captures to win a lot of their opponent's pieces. It's like a repeating cycle of attacks that can be very powerful.

Famous Windmill Buildings

Some buildings are so famous they are known simply as "The Windmill."

The Windmill Theatre, London

The Windmill Theatre in London, England, was a very famous entertainment venue. It was known for its lively shows and helped launch the careers of many performers. It was a popular place for people to go for a night out.

The Windmill, Brisbane

In Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, there's a building called The Windmill. It's super old, actually the oldest surviving building in Brisbane! It was originally built to grind grain and pump water. Today, it's a historic landmark.