Harnessing direct solar energy – a progress report
Activity 1
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
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.
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.
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.
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 use
Renewable Energy Sources
A list of websites containing teaching resources on the topic of renewable energy.
Page updated December 2009.