Solar energy is a part of our everyday lives.
Explanation of solar panels for kids.
Before you can understand how solar panels work you need some knowledge about the sun itself.
Solar panels do not generate electricity directly.
The steam can be used to make electricity in a power plant.
With a few simple activities you can help your kids understand and have some fun while you re at it.
Solar pv panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity.
The electricity is fed into what is called a solar inverter.
Renewable energy when we use solar power we don t use any of the earth s resources like coal or oil.
Once the sun hits the panels the energy is made into electricity.
There is also the solar thermal power plant.
The average home or business can have 50 75 of the power they use come from solar energy.
A solar furnace can produce temperatures of up to 3 630 f 2 000 c.
They actually produce energy from the sun s light.
Solar energy is a complex concept to explain but you don t need a physics degree to do it.
The sun shines on the solar panels and the panels absorb the energy creating direct current dc electricity.
This converts the current into alternating current ac electricity.
The ac current is then used to power the appliances in your home.
The more panels you have on a roof the more solar electricity you produce.
Solar cells also called photovoltaic cells are devices that change solar energy into electricity.
They are often located on the roofs of buildings where they can receive the most sunlight.
It has mirrors that focus large amounts of solar energy into a small area.
These cells are made of semi conductive materials most often silicon a material that can conduct electricity while maintaining the electrical imbalance needed to create an electric field.
A single solar cell makes only a little electricity.
Maybe you ve seen solar panels sitting on the.
Begin your quest at your local library where you can.
A solar inverter helps turn the electricity into power that can be used.
Instead they heat up water directly.
However groups of solar cells can provide electricity.
The water is heated by heat energy from the sun and returns to the tank.
Solar power is power generated directly from sunlight.
The sun has produced energy for billions of years.
Solar panels solar panels are different to solar cells.
Solar panels make renewable energy.
Solar cells use the sun s light rather than its heat.
These cells are often joined to form solar panels.
The best way to teach kids about the sun and its energy is by discovering more about our solar system and what energy means.
Solar power can be used for heat energyor converted into electric energy.
Solar power is also clean power that doesn t generate a lot of pollution.
The amount of sunlight that reaches earth varies depending on location time of day time of year and weather conditions.
Here a concentration of the sun s energy by many panels is used.
Unlike a generator a solar panel is a solid state way of producing electricity meaning that it has no moving parts.
This heat can be used to make steam.
When the sun shines on a solar cell the cell turns the light energy into electricity.
This makes solar power a renewable energy source.
