Making Use of a School Science Project on Energy to Educate Youngsters on the Energy Crises
Author: Paul P Fletcher
Choosing the right science project for young people to do should include the concept of helping them become more involved in today's important global issues. A science project on solar panels could be just the thing for them to gain a better understanding of how the energy crisis is affecting us and what they can do about it.
We have come to appreciate the enormous changes that have occurred in the past few decades. We only need look at the impact that the Industrial Revolution period has had on the environment to see that all is not well with the planet. Our lakes, oceans, and rivers are in a pitiable state. The very air that we breathe is infused with pollutants that make us sick. Natural disasters are now more frequent, devastating millions of lives each year. The energy sources that have provided the power to fuel so-called economic and technological development and progress have taken their toll on our fragile environment. And the younger and future generations are the ones who are going to pay for the follies of the older generations who thoughtlessly abused our natural resources and the environment.
A Teachers' School Science Project
It has come to a point that the very survival of the human race is being questioned as being endangered in the coming years. The abuse of Mother Nature and her bounty has led to massive pollution throughout the globe. The biggest impact has been those of fossil fuels polluting, not only the atmosphere but, the water and other resources that maintain our survival. Mining for fossil fuels takes a toll on the nearby environment, causing irrevocable damage.
These are likely contributers to the greenhouse effect that may lead to devastaing floods from increased temeratures melting the ice in the Arctic. Acid rain is caused by fossil fuels' sulphur oxide emissions and pose a dangerous threat to our environment. Because fossil fuels are non-recyclable, the supply of this energy source will end in due time. The fact that our fossil fuel resources are fast depleting is a serious issue which we will have to face or else we can no longer have sufficient sources of energy to support human civilization.
Solar Panel Building For Students
These all being said, you can imagine how educating the future generations of our world about energy efficiency can help in saving what remains of our energy sources and rebuilding the damage fossil fuels have done. The energy crises, the harmful consequences of fossil fuel use on the environment - our young people should be made aware as to how these are both significant issues that affect the very survival of the human race as we know it today.
Knowledge is a powerful weapon which can arm the future generations in their fight to rescue our ailing planet through resolving the issues on energy sources. The fact that you are applying it makes it more effective. If you wish to gain the support of the youth as well as get their interest, the best way to go about it is through application of knowledge.
The High School Science Project on Solar Energy
What would happen if every student and pupil were engaged in a school science project of building a solar panel and educating them on the energy crises. Young people will get to experience for themselves alternative energy solutions by means of solar panels that change sunshine into electrical energy. Allowing them to perform the project by themselves will make them appreciate solar power's simple efficiency. Harnessing power from the sun is a concept that young people of today should be familiar with. Let them have a hands-on project on alternative energy sources such as this one and this will help everyone benefit from the knowledge that the energy and environmental crises can be solved with modern scientific solutions.
Making a model Solar Panel that produces a current?
Open QuestionShow me another »
Making a model Solar Panel?
For a science project we have to make a model solar panel that can actually convert light into electricity to light a small light bulb. Any easy way without having to buy professional equipment and stuff? Could we use a pre-made one from a calculator and hook that up? Would that work? Thanks!
I need to find an online store that sells gears, axles, and wheels for a science project solar car!?
Hi! I need a gear, that will fit an axle, that has wheels attached to it will fit on this gear motor! : http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102828. Any help would be awesome. I have an small axle (maybe 1mm diameter) that has wheels already, but I cant find any gear websites that tell me how big the hole is for the axle to fit through. I am making a solar car for a science project, so a solar panel is connected to the gear motor, which turns the gear attached to the axle, which consequently moves the car! So can ya help me?
Thanks!
Ok, that website seems to have everything I need, but how do I tell which rod fits which gear?
Try this place for parts…
http://www.sdp-si.com/
Am I to understand taht you want to put a gear on the shaft wwith wheels already on it? So you can gear it down?
If so….just measure up the shaft and get a gear that has a hole to the same size to slightly smaller…something like 3 to 5 thousandths smaller.
If no gears with holes are available…get gears with no holes and drill yourself.
How do I store energy from a solar panel in a battery?
I am making a solar powered car for my science project. I was wondering how I could use a solar panel to store energy in a battery so the car could work in the classroom away from the window.
You need to do a series of connection so the solar panel adds up to 13.2 to 13.5 VDC. Get your correct connections to the battery with a proper fuse too.
Teacher Wants Me To Make A Solar Panel?
My conceptual physics teacher has asked the class to each create their own solar panel as our final project in this class.
Nothing big and fancy, it’s just a highschool project;
And he doesn’t want us to spend any money on it.
He says that most of the things that are necessary materials for the project can be found around the house.
I can probably spend up to twenty or twenty five dollars on it; but I have no idea what to do.
Can’t spend tons of money, and we’re getting graded for designs, so not too simple but not rocket science either.
Any suggestions??
he never said he wanted you to convert sunlight into electricity using a silicon substrate did he? If not do what is done in the solar industry. Make a solar based heat exchanger. Use sunlight to heat a liquid in tubing and pump it.
think outside the box
Can i get a small solar panel anywhere?
i am in the last year of high school
for my science project i want to make a solar car model
can i get a small solar panel for my model?
what’s the minimum-voltage(only sufficient to run my model) solar panel that i can get?
and what maybe the cost of it?
please help..
There a places on line that stock and selll just about everything electronic. Look around their websites and find what you need.
The major players are
http://www.digikey.com
http://www.mouser.com
http://www.newark.com
You don’t say what kind of model you want to run, so we can’t give you any real advice in this area. You probably and a panel that will output a similar voltage and current that the present battery supplies.
Look a the “datasheets” for any panel you are considering. These have everything you need to know about the panels-voltage, current, physical size, etc. These can become confusing, but you will get used to them after a while.
Good luck!
How do you build a solar panel out of household objects?
I’m doing my science fair project on solar energy and i need to know how to make a solar panel out of household objects. I found a website that said it is possible to build one out of a box, paint, plastic, and aluminum foil but I can’t find out how.
If you are trying to build a solar oven you can get some great ideas and free plans at: Solar Cookers International: http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solar_cooker_designs
And like the other have said Build it Solar has lots of great solar energy projects: http://www.builditsolar.com/
If you are trying to build your own solar panels that is a little more involved and you will need supplies that are not in your home but this can still be done as a do-it-yourself project: http://www.applied-solar.info/earth4energy-homemade-power/
Portable Solar Panel Powered Mini Radio with Speakers?
0K.
So I was thinking of making a mini portable solar panel powered radio for my science fair project.But I don’t have any idea of how to get started with this.
Here are some of the requirements I need for this radio . . .
-must be MINI SIZED and portable
-must be S0LAR PANEL P0WERED
-must have some kind of speakers
Some other things that I wouldn’t mind having on the radio are . . .
-a headphone jack
THANK-Y0U !
Very, very simple!
Find a small portable radio – Radio Shack has some nice ones with potential. Your best bet are the ones powered by two penlight batteries, since you’re power consumption requirements are small.
Then, you can source a couple of solar panels – again, Radio Shack will work well. Find ones with sufficient power output – you’ll need sufficient sized panels to put out the same power as the batteries the radio came with.
From there, its simply a point of tying in the panel wiring to the old battery terminal wires, and you’re done.
what would be a good title name for a science fair project?
that deals with shining different colors of lights (ex:white,black,green,red, and blue) on a solar panel figuring out what light color makes the most electricity. for the title it would not be a question it would be something like “the solar panel project”.?
Terse and catchy:
Color Power
Power of Color
Verbose and impressive:
The Effects of Frequency of Light Radiation on Power Production
Power Production as a Function of Frequency of Light
Good luck.
Science Fair Project Problem? Solar Power?
Okay, I am in 8th grade, and I will be in the Science Fair in a week. My topic is Solar Power. I am doing like how you can put a solar panel on the street lights and it will collect energy in the day, and then shine at night. It will be all from the Sun.
The problem is: I need a question. I need a question that I will have to make an experiment to and collect data from. Please help me. All I need is just a question that I can do my expiriment on. Please help.
An obvious question for a city to answer would be whether it would make sense to generate just enough energy for street lighting by placing collector and storage at each light rather than build solar collection in larger amounts, as in on roof tops, and storage in larger amounts, where it might be shown to be needed.
This is not something that is a science fair question. It is more related to the wisdom of providing solar power for use only at night while our demand for electricity is highest mid day. If we generate solar electricity and use it during our period of peak demand, it has greatest value, without the cost of storage to use it at night.
The cost of storage can exceed the cost of solar generation, so it becomes important to avoid having to store more power than we must.
What your question might be, the cost to generate power from the sun as compared to the cost to store it to night and the economic benefit of storing instead of using it during prime load periods in the day.
( from observations in Ontario, our solar generation does map closely to our periods of highest consumption, so solar gives us the ability to avoid adding daytime peak load generation capacity via coal.
i want to attach a solar panel to my bike and i was wondering how to?
im doing a science fair im and i want to do a project on solar panels and i want to find out how to attach one to my bike to power it. i have a cheap budget and i know solar panel are expensive but i still want to know how to attach one to my bike to make it work. plz help!!! btw if u think u have an easie idea 4 a science fair plz say so!!!!! thx
You did not give enough information to us to be able to give you an answer.
Is your bike some kind of electric bicycle.
Do you want the solar panel to charge a battery that powers the electric bicycle?
Another direction, Do you want the solar panel to charge the battery for a head light
on a regular pedal bicycle?
There are three places on a bicycle to mount a solar panel ,
Above either of the fenders,
or on the handel bars, if it is not too big.
Without a photo of the bike in question, I can only suggest some light gage flat bar or angle iron, available at a local hardware store.
They should have those items in aluminum also for less weight.
This website offers several solar bicycle lights
http://www.tradekey.com/ks-solar-bike-light/
You can add additional details to your question with the tab under your question.
I will check back to see.
George.
Edit:
Question answered Wed 1/13/10 @ 6:00 PM
checked back on:
Thursday 1/14/10 @ 4:00AM
George
How to make a homemade solar panel?
We have 50$ for a science project, and we deciedid to make a functional solar pannel. How to do this?
Hmm, I answered a very similar question to this one a little bit ago “How can i build a solar panel?”. It was asked a few hours after your question, though.
Anyway, I will take my response from that question and tailor it to your needs (the other question concerned a small solar car to be entered in a science fair).
**********************
So, if you want to build your own solar panel that looks like what you see on buildings, etc, you will probably need to be a multi-millionaire. Here is a quote from the first link in my sources list:
“The high-efficiency solar cells you can buy at Radio Shack and other stores are made from highly processed silicon, and require huge factories, high temperatures, vacuum equipment, and lots of money.”
But fortunately for you, there is a cheap way to make a solar panel yourself (see link). I love the scitoys website, but I am not quite familiar with this particular experiment. After glancing over it a bit, I would say not to expect any appreciable power out of this panel (so as the site says, no lighting up any bulbs).
But, you should be able to measure the voltage output easily with a voltmeter and be able to detect different voltages at different levels of sunlight. Also, you can probably improve on the design.
Good luck…
-Ubi
Oh, and the answer before me by eyedontevatrick. If you want to save a question to look at later you can use the Add to Watchlist feature or the Star feature. Check it out.
Help with science project! Solar Power Car?
I’m in the 6th grade and I want to be like a little car and a like a little solar panel attached to it. But I have no idea how to make it, I was thinking about going to radio shack to buy the supplies and everything, but can someone tell me how to make one?
You need to buy a low power electric motor, often sold as “solar motor”.
Lot’s of companies sell them together with solar cell scrap. See e.g.
http://www.solar-world.com/SolarMini-Panels&Motors.htm
(no endorsement, I just googled “solar motor” and they popped up).
I would suggest you get encapsulated cells first, the scrap cells are very brittle and hard to work with (even if you have special solder and the right tools). You will also need some gears to set down the high rpms of the motor to the low rpm of the car. The gears will give you the necessary torque to drive a reasonable sized car.
Besides these simple hints, everything else is left to your imagination.
SCIENCE FAIR…SOLAR…HELP!! ASAP?
I only have about a month to be done with my science project and it’s about the output of the energy the solar panel produces based on different wavelengths. However, I want to find an excellent solar panel between the cost of $30-$60 that has the plugs and w.e is needed to plug it with a multi-meter [if you can also find the best and easiest to use that would be great]…
anyway I would actually need a solar panel between $30-$60
a multi-meter $10-$30
and any other device that might be helpful….
PLZ HELP ME cuz its gonna b my lst yr in middle skool…n i wanna make it right….
The cost of new solar panel is around 3 U.S.$ per watt.You can buy any old one for lessor cost. Instead of multi meter go for LED bulb or any low watt low volt bulb to measure the energy.I am using a 30 watts 12 volt motor that drives my split type evaporation unit .I have just removed the evaporator and replaced the 230 volt motor by 12 volt motor.It gives sufficient air during the day time.Shortly one like this will be exhibited in our non conventional energy park.
Making a model Solar Panel?
For a science project we have to make a model solar panel that can actually convert light into electricity to light a small light bulb. Any easy way without having to buy professional equipment and stuff? Could we use a pre-made one from a calculator and hook that up? Would that work? Thanks!
making solar panels is easy. here’s a link to a DIY of solar cells. 10 easy steps
science project: how do you make a solar powered car go fast?
we are having races between groups in diff science classes and me and my group were wondering how to make it go the fastest it will/can go. we haveto make it go straight, have a solar panel that velcros so the top has to be a rectangle cant be changed and is about this big:
_________________________________________
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[_______________________________________
yeah,
so what would help it?
we were making it look like a hamburger,
and were hooping the body could be in a triangular shape for the wind resistance for us anything will help(:
Lightest as possible. Power to weight ratio is key to making a car go fast along with aerodynamics. Also, not sure if this will work but paint the car white so all the suns light goes directly to the panels and not the paint.
What is a good high school science project?
hi. i am currently a sophomore and for my chemistry class, i have to do a science project. some ideas my teacher gave us were hot air balloon, catapult, hovercraft… etc. i would like to do something that is challenging but not too difficult. also, i have been thinking about making my own solar panel but i’m not sure how much that would cost. oh, it can be in any field of science. if anyone has any ideas, that would be great!
Science Fair Projects
•Hundreds of Free Science Fair Projects•
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/senior.html
http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/sci_fair/science_fair.htm
Tips for Success
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_tips.shtml
How would we go about making a solar panel?
My friends and I are working on a science project together, and I came up with the lovely idea to try to charge a laptop with a solar panel. One problem, we don’t know how to make one. I’ve looked it up on google and I can’t find any tutorials to make the one we need.
To help, we are using a Dell Inspiron 5100, and we are using the original power adapter for it.
@billruss- I’ve seen sights that have given proof that you can make a homemade one, I just don’t know how to make one big enough
The kind of panel that you can make from scratch is the kind that heats water or something else, not the kind that generates electricity.
To generate electricity, you can buy individual solar cells and string them together in your own panel. Examples are at http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/category-workshop/channel-solar/ . And cells can be bought at places like http://www.goldmine-elec.com/solar/ or eBay. A panel made in this fashion will usually not be cheaper than a panel that is ready-made, but it could be a fun project.
I’m doing a science project on green housing…?
We have to write a paper and make a poster/or a model of a house that uses materials to make it more energy efficent. What are some materials I could make/draw/symbolize for my project other than like solar panels? This will help alot!
ECO FRIENDLY HOUSING
There are many examples of houses made cheaply using local materials
such as houses made from bamboo
http://www.bambooliving.com/bambootech.html
http://www.inbar.int/housing/main.htm
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/Web_version/572/ch38.htm
Or Straw bale houses.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4673361259827571538
http://www.balewatch.com/
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/strawbale.htm
Beautiful villas are build out of Adobe (Mud and sticks)with thatched roofs ,that are supremely insulated.
http://www.world-housing.net/uploads/adobe.pdf?pr=Array
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/houses/pueblo.html
http://sicarius.typepad.com/althouse/2007/07/adobe-floors.html
Very green housing partly with living roofs to blend in with the environment.
Maximum 3 stories high,including a basement.
a perfect example of this type of development is described by
William McDonough: The wisdom of designing
at the end of this tape,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoRjz8iTVoo
William McDonough is an Architect who designed a city in China that blended totally into the landscape ,the farmland ending on top of all the equal level roofs ,with the farmers moving about on bridges
All the rooms would have the sun at least once a day,The city to utilize all their own byproducts as gas for cooking or compost
With solar energy to power the lot
The land above would produce all the food and meat for the city
A totally auto sufficient concept ,with agriculture build in in a sustainable way.
A beautiful solution to Urban spread,(Be patient ,he does not go into this until the very end of the video)
LIVING ROOFS
is a great solution to utilizing space as well as insulation against either heat or cold ,for the accomodations, green lawns is extravegant unless you got a goat grazing up there (got friends in south Africa who got that)
It means slightly different construction with concrete roofs at a very gentle slope (for drainage)
damp coursing the concrete with black plastic,(Although the Aztezs used moss)
installing irrigation systems.and leaving easy ways up to the roof ,with ramps
The walls and reinforced corner pillars must be of sufficiant strengh to support the extra weight ,as should the cross beams under the roof .
If you decide to go the full living roof way
which means at least 1/4 of a meter of soil to support the weight of the wet soil.
No more than 3 stories is recommended before doing the living roof .
have the slope in a Northern direction to make full use of the sun(depending which hemisphere you are in,,and so that you could also incorporate solar panels.
But you can also put lots of flowerpots up if you just want some flowers ,standing on planks (the simple small way)
URBANISATION IN A SUSTAINABLE ,AUTOSUFICIENT & HEALTHY MANNER
Why this is recomended
They did some experiments with rats in highrise building conditions and after the 3rd story they began to get weird
by the time they were on twenty they went insane and ate their own babies .
this gives you some idea what the bosses must be like in the penthouse offices
So 3 stories is a reasonable healthy hight for humans they have discovered BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
so we cannot put to many people on top of each other
technically it is an impossible task to ensure a continues supply of good air for everybody
and the mental effects are drastic ,
but we can blend people into and under the landscape
From,http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjwbEcQA3f9qIh_.40iu5Yjsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070810163042AAvuSPo
More ideas on Eco Housing are Earthships
http://www.earthship.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlrhxqat_6A
http://www.earthships.com/
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/earthship.htm
Imagine a home that heats itself, that provides its own water, that grows its own food. Imagine that it needs no expensive technology, that it recycles its own waste, that it has its own power source. And now imagine that it can be built anywhere, by anyone, out of the things society throws away.
Thirty years ago, architect Michael Reynolds imagined just such a home – then set out to build it. A visionary builder Reynolds has been fighting ever since to bring his concept to the public. He believes that in an age of ecological instability and impending natural disaster, his buildings can – and will – change the way we live.
“If you create your own electricity, heating and water systems you create your own politics
Mongrel Media proudly presents GARBAGE WARRIOR an Oliver Hodge film,http://earthissues.multiply.com/video/item/53
from,http://byderule.multiply.com/links/item/16
Housing using whole trees are not exactly green ,if it is one OK, but imagine thousands
How do you Measure Solar Energy?
I have a science project on Solar Energy, and I have to make different Solar Panels and Measure which one collects the most energy. I am COMPLETELY lost on this. Well, I kind of know how to make the Panels, but not so they will collect energy. And also, I don’t know how to measure the energy once I’ve collected it! Please help! Oh, and don’t post annoying little “i don’t know”‘s or something like that, because i WILL report you. Thankies!
I’m assuming you are making hot water using a solar panels. Well just stick a thermometer and get the temperature in F. or C. and do a comparison with the thermometers.
If you are using a photovoltaics solar panels then you would have to use a volt meter to measure the volts output from each different panel.
Hope this helps.
How do I make a solar panel?
For my science fair project I’m making a water heater that uses solar energy. My science teacher said I have to make a solar panel and can’t buy one. How do I make a CHEAP, INEXPENSIVE solar panel? Please leave a source and know that I’m only in the sixth grade.
What you could do is just place mirrors in such a way that the sun’s rays focus on the water heater. They actually do this on top of homes in the southwestern U.S. The water tank is stored horizontally on the roof, and reflective surfaces direct sunlight to heat the water heater.