Solar Panels by Ariel Smith

Solar Energy

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 07:02:30 UTC

One renewable resource that the earth can rely on is solar energy. We receive solar energy from the heat and light in the sun's rays that come through the earths atmosphere.

Solar power is clean, abundant, and renewable!

First the sun light is absorbed by the solar panels, the energy is transferred from AC to DC by an energy inverter, and this energy is tracked by a utility meter.

Non-renewable Energy

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 07:04:15 UTC

The earth rely's on various renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. We use mostly non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels and oil, which once consumed can not be used again. Once we extract the fossil fuels and coal from the earth they are not replaced. They way we use energy, humans are using up all of the oil and coal, which will not be replenished in our life time.

Standard

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 07:21:59 UTC

6th Grade

Concept 3: Transfer of Energy

(Understand that energy can be stored and transferred)

PO 1. Identify various ways in which electrical energy is generated using renewable and nonrenewable resources
(e.g., wind, dams, fossil fuels, nuclear reactions).

See How Solar Works!

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 15:07:34 UTC

We will watch this video to learn about how sun light is absorbed, what it powers, and the effects it has on us and the environment.

Why is Solar Energy Valuable to Arizona?

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 15:55:03 UTC

Arizona has huge solar panel fields in the desert as well as the solar panels that citizens put on their rooftops, and businesses have on their parking structures. On average, Arizona has 299 out of 365 sunny days, which means that 80% of the year the clouds are not blocking the sun rays energy. This is a higher percentage than most states since we are in the desert and clouds don't form as often to block the sun. We use this solar energy to power about 300,000 homes. The more homes that can be powered by solar energy, means less homes spending money on electricity powered by power plants and fossil fuels. When enough people cut back on emitting carbon in to the atmosphere than we are lessening Arizona's pollution, making the air we breathe cleaner and people healthier. Also we wouldn't be contributing as much to global warming which is caused by green house gas in the earth's atmoshpere.

Solar Panel Activity for 6th Grade

ansmit32 — 2015-10-04 16:14:30 UTC

The standard we are going over is understanding how electricity is generated using both renewable and non renewable sources. Before the lesson starts we will talk about different energy sources from the options in the diagram below (hydropower, solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, fossil fuel, coal, nuclear energy, and natural gas). The students will pick which source they think is better. They will draw a picture of how they think these processes produce electricity and write why they think Arizona should use it to power our homes and businesses.

After learning about non renewable, renewable, and solar energy through the text, images, and videos we will do an interactive activity about photovolatic cells. These are present in solar panels and are what absorbs the sunlight and converts it in to electricity. Since the standard my class will be addressing is understanding how energy can be stored and transferred looking at a photo-voltaic cell will help the students understand the mechanics and inner workings of a solar panels. With the materials I give them they will read the instructions and make a solar house which is a blown up version of a PV cell. They can visualize the energy transfer as sunlight comes in to the cardboard box. After they create the solar house we will discuss what they observed, what factors effect absorbing sunlight, and if they think PV cells and solar panels are sustainable.