SOLAR ENERGY

Erika Yanora
& Alyssa
Greco

WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY?

Energy from the sun that is converted into
thermal or electrical energy
Cleanest and most abundant renewable
resource available.
Used for modern technology
Generating electricity
Providing light
Comfortable interior environment
Heating water for domestic, commercial, or
industrial uses

SOLAR PANELS
Found on roof tops, space crafts, and
handheld calculators.
Cells are made of semiconductor materials
Like those found in a computer chip
Sunlight hits the cells and knocks electrons
loose from their atoms.
As the electrons fl ow through the cell, they
generate electricity.

THERMAL ENERGY
Is energy possessed by an object or system
due to the movement of particles within the
object or system.
HEAT!
It is made up of particles or molecules
Rise in the temperature of matter makes the
particles vibrate faster
The more the molecules vibrate, the higher
its thermal energy will be

THERMAL ENERGY
Measured in Joules (J)
Energy in thermal energy is
defined as the ability to do work
NOTE: Heat and temperature are
not the same thing

SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY

Form of energy and a technology for
harnessing solar energy to generate
thermal or electrical energy.
First installation of solar thermal
energy was in Sahara Desert
1910
Steam engine was run on steam
produced by sunlight

SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY

Solar thermal collectors are classifi ed
as low, medium, or high-temperature
collectors.
Low flat plates generally used to heat
swimming pools.
Medium flat plates but are used for heating
water or air for residential or commercial use.
High concentrate sunlight using mirrors or
lenses and are used for fulfilling heat up to
300 deg and for electric power production.

SOLAR OVEN SMORES

Aluminum foil this material will
refl ect extra sunlight towards the
Smores to concentrate the suns rays.
Black construction paper the
cooking surface because black
attracts the sun and will retain the
heat.

RESOURCES
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/envir
onment/global-warming/solar-power-profi le/
http://www.seia.org/about/solar-energy
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-isthermal-energy-defi nition-examples.html
http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/kinds-ofenergy/what-is-thermal-energy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energy
http://www.solarcooker-atcantinawest.com/solarcooking-howitworks.html