Exploring Solar Energy: A Beginner's Guide to Harnessing the Sun's Power

1. Solar Energy • Ms. Shepherd • Ms. Goldman’s 1st • Grade Class

2. Energy What isenergy? Energy makes change possible. We use it to do things for us. What do we useenergyfor? • moves cars • moves boats • bakes a cake in the oven. • keeps ice frozen in the freezer. • plays songs on the radio. • lights our homes. • helps us grow! • helps us think!

3. Solar Energy What is solar energy? The sun has produced energy for billions of years.  Solar energy is the sun’s rays (solar radiation) that reach the Earth. This energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity. What do we usesolar energyfor? We can convert solar energy into thermal (or heat) energy to heat water and heat spaces. We can convert solar energy into electricity by “solar cells” in solar panels.

4. Solar Panels Sunlight is made of small particles of solar energy.  Solar cells collect those particles. When the particle hits the solar cell, they may be reflected, pass right through, or be absorbed.  Only the absorbed particles provide energy to generate electricity.

5. Solar Panels

6. Solar Panels

7. Solar Panels Why don’t we use solar energy all the time? The amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface is not constant. It depends on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions.

8. Solar Energy

9. Solar Oven Solar ovens are used to bake, boil and steam all kinds of food with the power of the sun. Its cheap, safe, and you can take it anywhere.

10. Solar Oven

11. Solar Oven • What We Need • Recycled pizza box • Black construction paper • Aluminum foil • Clear plastic (heavy plastic laminate works best) • Non-toxic glue, tape, scissors, ruler, magic marker • sticks

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