Final answer:
The most likely source of "wasted" energy in a wind turbine is thermal energy, which is lost as heat due to friction and resistance within the turbine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely source of "wasted" energy in a wind turbine is thermal energy.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. However, not all of the energy from the wind can be converted into electricity. Some of the energy is lost as heat due to friction and resistance within the turbine. This loss of energy is known as thermal waste.
In a typical wind turbine, the efficiency is calculated as the amount of electrical energy generated divided by the maximum potential energy. Since the efficiency of a wind turbine is typically around 30%, it means that only 30% of the maximum potential energy can be converted into electrical energy, while the remaining 70% is lost as thermal waste.