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How does ice affect solar cell output?

How does ice affect solar cell output?. Morgan Dutrow 11 th Grade Bellwood-Antis. Problem. How well do solar panels work when ice accumulates on them? I chose this experiment because of… A recent ice storm The green movement. Research.

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How does ice affect solar cell output?

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  1. How does ice affect solar cell output? Morgan Dutrow 11th Grade Bellwood-Antis

  2. Problem How well do solar panels work when ice accumulates on them? I chose this experiment because of… • A recent ice storm • The green movement

  3. Research The amount of light absorbed by panel could reduce several ways…

  4. Gamma Rays • Gamma rays and visible light are both on the electromagnetic scale.

  5. Hypothesis As the ice gets thicker the amount of light absorbed by the solar panel and turned to energy will decrease exponentially.

  6. Experimental Design • Variable • Thickness of ice • Experimental Group • 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, and 3.5 cm • Control • 0 cm (no ice)

  7. Materials • Solar panel • Ringstand • Multimeter • Tupperware • Water • Freezer • Ruler • Light bulb • Socket

  8. Procedure-making the ice thickness • I had to make sure the ice was uniform. • Tried several methods: • Stiff plastic with lining • Flexible Tupperware with lining • Flexible Tupperware without lining

  9. Procedure-testing the panels Set up equipment Place ice on panel Record Volts and Amps Repeat steps 1-3 for all other trials of different thicknesses Find Power = V * i Note: This is not where my experiment occurred.

  10. Control Variables • Light • Distance • Same bulb • Room • Temperature • Location • External light • Solar panel • Same one used for all tests • Materials • Same used for all tests

  11. Raw Data

  12. Power

  13. Averages of Power

  14. Initial Analysis Note: Some error bars are too small to be seen.

  15. In-depth Analysis

  16. Conclusion Since the R value is the closest to 1 for the exponential line of best fit, I accept my hypothesis that the amount of light absorbed will decrease exponentially as the thickness of the ice increases.

  17. Improvements and Expansion • Should’ve used a larger graduated cylinder. • I should have used thicker ice. • I could use snow since my area gets a lot of snow.

  18. Bibliography • http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell.htm • http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/gamma.html • http://library.thinkquest.org/27356/p_index.htm • http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/light/U12L2c.cfm • http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageId=57

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