Published by Australian Academy of Science
Activities | Harnessing direct solar energy – a progress report

1. Photovoltaic cells and solar collectors

2. Calculating the amount of solar radiation that can be converted to electricity

3. Aspects of solar energy collection and use

4. The cost of solar energy

5. Showing the movement of water as it heats

6. Making a solar water heater

Other activities

• Origin Energy (Australia)
  • Photovoltaic solar – students learn about photovoltaic cells then estimate the contribution solar panels could make to their home electricity.

• Science upd8 (UK)
  • Solar car challenge – students learn about energy transfers in solar cars and consider design features to maximise a solar car’s speed.

• Mobile Inquiry Technology (The Concord Consortium, USA)
  • Solar cell – use a solar cell to investigate changes in the amount of sunlight at ground level.

• Re-Energy (The Pembina Institute, Canada)
  Students learn about renewable, solar power, wind, water power and biomass energy. Lesson and construction plans for working models of solar power cars, solar ovens, wind power turbines, water wheels and biogas generators are available.
  • The colour sensitivity of a photovoltaic cell – students use coloured light to test the colour sensitivity of one or more kinds of photovoltaic cells. Using digital voltmeters, students measure the voltages and then graph the results.
  • Building and testing a solar oven – students work in small groups to build a solar oven. They test the oven using two baking pans and record the temperature changes. Instructions on how to build the solar oven are available.

• Queensland Department of Education (Australia)
  • Power for a sustainable future – provides an extensive list of activities and fact sheets on different forms of energy.

• Science NetLinks (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
  • Harnessing solar energy – students discover the properties of radiant energy from the sun by experimenting with solar collectors, cookers and calculators.
  • Star power! Discovering the power of sunlight – students estimate the energy output of the sun and how much power sunlight provides to the Earth.

• Energy Information Administration Kid's Page (USA)
  Click on ‘Classroom Activities’ and then ‘Teachers and students’ to access a list of activities including:
  • Solar cooking – students build and test a solar hot dog cooker.
  • Energy in the round – students play a game to reinforce learning about forms of energy.
  • Solar collectors – students compare black and white materials as solar collectors.

• SunWind Solar Lessons (Sunwind Solar Industries Inc., USA)
  • Happy birthday Theremin – students change the pitch of the tune played by a birthday card by altering light levels.
  • Smooth black stone – students compare insulating materials using three black rocks.
  • ‘Notes and links’ – provides background information on solar energy and its uses.