Solar+Power

Science with a Chance of Sunshine By Beth and Molly


 * __How it Works__**


 * 1) Solar energy is collected by photovoltaic cells, which make up solar panels.
 * 2) When the sun shines, negative neutrons seperate from the silicone (sand that has been reformed into computer chips acting as semi-conductors), and the neutrons become trapped by a magnetic field.
 * 3) The neutrons are then harvested by tiny wires located in the silicone to form an electric current. The electric current then creates electricity.
 * 4) The electricity can then be used to power the house or car the solar panels are attached to or it can be stored in a solar battery. [4]



**Photovoltaic cell**
 * __Law of Conservation of Energy and Solar Power__**


 * In step 1, light and heat energy are emitted by the sun and collected by the photovoltaic cells.
 * In step 2, the light and heat energy causes the neutrons to seperate from the silicone and become trapped by a magnetic field.
 * In step 3, the chemical potential energy in the neutrons is used to create electric energy, more specifically known as solar power.

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A video explaining through visuals how solar power works and is transformed into electricity


 * __Pros and Cons of Solar Energy__**

Pros: Cons:
 * It's a renewable energy source [5].
 * It's clean and emits no pollution [5].
 * It can be stored in solar batteries for later use on rainy days [5].
 * The initial investment on solar energy is a small price to pay compared to the money it saves, since after installation, no additional costs are needed [5].
 * It's long-lasting [6].
 * It operates silently [6].
 * It can harness power in remote places (such as deserts, mountain communities) [5].
 * It is independent, meaning no power or gas grids are needed [6].
 * It requires little or no maintenance [6].
 * It's fairly expensive [6].
 * It requires a large area [7].
 * Clouds and pollution can decrease the efficiency of photovoltaic cells [6].
 * The location of the solar panels can affect how well the energy is produced (there can be possible disruption with surrounding buildings or landscape) [7].
 * Solar powered cars are not as fast as others [6].


 * __Solar Powered Cars: The New Ray of the Future__**

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A video about a new solar car

Are solar powered cars the new ray of the future? Many people and scientists all over the world are considering the answer to this question. Since gasoline prices have grown, people have tried to look for better ways to save money. After the original investment of buying a solar powered car, no additional money is needed to fuel the automobile as it runs on the sun. But how does it work?

Solar powered cars are powered mainly the same way in which houses are powered. The solar powered cars also have solar panels installed on the outside of the car to capture the sun's energy. The process in which the photons (a particle of solar energy) are transferred to the solar panels are the same (see the steps in "How It Works" at the very top of this page). The energy captured is sorted into batteries and when the brake of a solar powered car is pressed, the energy taken in that time period is also stored in the battery [1]. The battery is one of the most important parts of a solar powered car. The battery not only manages the power but it causes the movement of the car. The most used batteries types are lead acid battery, nickel metal hydrid battery, nick cadmium battery, lithium ion battery, and lithium polymer battery [2].

Unfortunately, solar powered cars can usually run at about 30 miles per hour, not exactly the fastest on the market [2]. To gain faster speeds, the cars' aerodymanics and the weight need to be taken into account when building. Racecars can speed up to 60 miles an hour (or as seen in the video, 120 km per hour-about 75 miles per hour) but these speedy demons cost hundreds of thousands of dollars [1]. Obviously the efficiency of photovoltaic cells can be improved and in the future, solar cars can be made to drive at higher speeds. Solar powered cars are definitely on their way as a cleaner, cheaper and alternative way to drive [3].

This is not just a theory, though. Some companies, for example, Ford, Mazda and Cadillac. These car companies are all experimenting with solar hybrids and using solar panels to power lights, radios, etc.[1]

This is a link to a video (located at the site's bottom) that shows how solar cars are built and how they work:

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How one man is using the sun to power his car

Here are some interesting pictures of solar powered cars:








 * Websites for Solar Cars:**

Visit this website to see how there is a kit for making your own solar powered car: (The cars are fairly box-like but in all different colors! Very creative!)

http://www.sunnev.com/

An​d this group of people who started the "Power of One" a solar car project where they use one solar powered car to try to break various records. They currently hold places as the first car to reach the Arctic Circle and first solar car in the world to drive across an ice road:

http://www.xof1.com/

A picture of the "Power of One" solar car:



__**Solar Batteries**__ Solar batteries are made of cells that retain energy. As the solar panels harvest the power, the solar batteries can store the electricity created by the photovoltaic cell. Solar batteries are deep cycle batteries. Deep cycle batteries differ from the common type of storage battery since they can supply small amounts of energy for longer periods of time. Solar batteries are used when it is too cloudy, rainy etc. for the solar panels to receive sunlight. they can run a house for up to a week on stored energy.[11]

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An explanation of battery power and how it's used with renewable energy

__**Recent News:**__

[|"Chickens One Day, Solar Panels the Next"]

Solar farms? Farmers must be overly excited to hear that their chicken coops can now run on clean energy. Not only can solar power be used to power the heat for chickens through the winter, but it can also operate the doors to the henhouse, along with incubation powering and more.


 * __Vocabulary__**

**active solar power**-the transformation of photons from the sun into electrical energy using a photovoltaic cell (solar panels); one form of converting sunlight [10]. Active solar power is basically how solar power is created to be used **electromagnetic radiation-**the sun's waves and rays of energy (infrared heat waves and visible light waves) made up of electric and magnetic fields [9] The sun's waves create the solar element of solar power. **flat-bed, flat-plate, solar collector-**a kind of solar panel used to heat water or air; solar power can require different types of solar panels [9]. These are examples of how solar power can be used.
 * chemical potential energy - **the energy that is stored in the chemical bonds of atoms and compounds; this energy is in the neutrons of atoms (see law of conservation of energy section and step three of "how it works") and is used to create electrical energy [10]. Chemical potential energy is used during the creation of solar power.
 * electromagnetic spectrum-**the entire range of wavelengths of photons (light); includes gamma rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light and radio waves; the entire range of light energy (includes the sun's rays) [10]. Since light is a huge part of solar power, since photons essentially power the entire production, so does the electromagnetic spectrum.
 * electron - **the elementary particle in an atom that carries a negative charge; the movement of electrons causes an electrical current which make up electrical energy (see steps three and four in "how it works") [10]. All power includes some form of atom, and therefore there are electrons involved.
 * heat energy - **the energy associated with the random motion of particles within an object; the sun produces heat and light energy [10]. Solar panels harvest the light and heat from the sun to help create solar power.
 * light energy**-** the energy associated with photons; the sun produces heat and light energy [10]. Solar panels harvest the light and heat from the sun to help create solar power. **
 * nucleus - **the center of an atom; where the neutrons are which are released and formed into electrical energy (see law of conservation of energy section and step three of "how it works") [10]. Once again, solar power uses atoms, which include nucleus.
 * passive solar power - **the transformation of photons from the sun __directly__ into heat energy; another form of converting sunlight [10]. This is another way to create a form of solar power.
 * photon-**a moving particle and wave of electromagnetic (light) energy; the sun's rays are made up of photons [10]. Photons make up light, which is harvested to create solar power.
 * photovoltaic cell**-a solar cell; used to convert sunlight into electrical energy [9]. Photovoltaic cells is the way solar power can be created, since it contains all the steps to creating solar power.
 * radiation-**the giving off of high-energy particles such as electromagnetic waves; or energy transmitted in this way; radiation of the sun is captured by photovoltaic cells and then transformed into electrical energy [9]. Radiation can be captured to be turned into solar power.
 * solar cell-**a small device that produces electricity directly from sunlight; another converter of solar energy [9]. Solar cells can be used as photovoltaic cells.
 * solar flare-**a flash of radiation from the sun's surface; could cause some higher degrees of solar energy when being collected [9]. Solar flares can cause a change in the production of solar power.
 * solar furnace-**a power plant where mirrors reflect sunlight into a fluid to heat it to a high temperature; another form of converting sunlight [9]. It is a way to mass produce solar power.

__**Bibliography:**__

[1] Conger, Christen. __How can Solar Panels Power a Car?__. 1998-2010. HowStuffWorks. 7 Apr 2010. [] [2] __How do the Solar Powered Cars Work?__. 16 Jul 2008. Solar Panels. 7 Apr 2010.[] [3] Satyanarayana, Ashwin and Khemani, Haresh. __How Solar Cars Work?__. 17 Sep 2008. Bright Hub. 7 Apr 2010.[] [4] Ashley, Stephanie. "How Does Solar Power Work? - A Quick Overview." __How Does Solar Power Work? - A Quick Overview.__ 25 Jun. 2009. Ezine Articles.com. 6 Apr. 2010. [] [5] Parks, Peggy J. __Solar Power__. CA: ReferencePoint Press, 2010. [6] __Advantages of Solar Power__. 2007-2009. Clean Energy Ideas. 5 Apr 2010. [] [7] __Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages__. 2005-2006. Facts About Solar Energy. 5 Apr 2010. [] [8] __Disadvantages of Solar Power__. 2007-2009 Clean Energy Ideas. 5 Apr 2010. [] [9] Morris, Neil. __Solar Power__. MN: Smart Apple Media, 2007. [10] Fehlau, Brian. http://quizlet.com/685508/energy-vocabulary-flash-cards/ [11] Dolentz, Sueanne. __How do Solar Batteries Work?.__ 1999 - 2010. eHow.com. 7 Apr. 2010. ,http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4597846_solar-batteries-work.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask>