rotor

Everyday

1. A rotor is a part of a machine that turns round and round, such as the blades on top of a helicopter. tree →
2. A rotor is the spinning part inside an electric motor or generator. tree →
3. In a wind turbine, the rotor is the hub with its blades that the wind turns. tree →

In the lessons

In science and design lessons, helicopters fly because their rotor blades push air down; a tail rotor stops the helicopter from spinning. In lessons on energy, wind turbine rotors turn a generator to make electricity. Pupils make paper «helicopters» (spinners) to test rotors and air resistance. Phrases: «rotor blades», «tail rotor», «main rotor».

Examples

• The helicopter's rotor began to spin. tree →
• The tail rotor stops the helicopter turning round. tree →
• The wind turned the rotor of the turbine. tree →
• Inside the motor, the rotor spins very fast. tree →
• We dropped paper rotors from the stairs and timed them. tree →
• Stay away from the rotor blades when the helicopter lands. tree →

Note

Countable. The word «rotor» is a palindrome: it reads the same backwards. The part of a motor that does not move is called the stator. Related words: rotate, rotation.