Solar Energy

Topic For The Day: Solar Energy
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Let’s Discuss The Problem Solving Process

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REVIEW YOUR SCRATCH PROJECTS!
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Way Back When
(Today’s Group Reading)

Humans have been using solar energy for thousands of years. Although the Ancient Greeks and Romans may not have had photovoltaic cells like the ones we use to convert sunlight to energy today, they knew how to use the sun to light their homes and help them grow crops!

As early as 400 B.C.E., Greek villages were built with architecture that maximized the amount of sunlight that poured in. Specifically, most houses were arranged so that sunlight could come in and warm things up during the winter months. The arrangement also blocked direct sunlight from entering homes during the summer, which kept the insides of the houses cool.

The sun was even more important to the Romans. In fact, one Roman legal code stated that you could not deny someone access to the sun! The Romans also invented window glass, which facilitated the building of the very first greenhouses.

As the Roman Empire expanded, fruits and vegetables were brought back to Rome and cultivated within these structures. Servants of the emperor Tiberius, who reigned during the 1st century C.E., even used a greenhouse-like system to ensure that their master could eat his favorite cucumbers every day of the year!

 

 

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ELA: Attentive Listening, Critical Listening (2) Science: Solar Energy
Unit 2 Lesson 1- Solar Energy and How it Works
(Reading Exercise)

Fossil Fuel: A fossil fuel is a fuel formed by natural processes, such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing organic molecules originating in ancient photosynthesis that release energy in combustion.

Solar Power- power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun’s rays.

Renewable Energy Source- Energy source that comes from an ongoing process that will continue far into the foreseeable future

Photovoltaic/Solar Cells- Dark panels on solar powered devices or solar panels that convert sunlight directly to electricity

Semiconductor- a solid substance that has a conductivity between that of an insulator and that of most metals, either due to the addition of an impurity or because of temperature effects.

Photon- Light particle released by the sun

Electrons- Particles that create the flow of electricity

Climate- the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
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Watch video on Solar Energy https://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/solarenergy/

 

Complete these sentences based on the video: 

  1. Why are Fossil Fuels used more than solar energy? 
  2. Why is solar energy considered a renewable energy source? 
  3. _____ is a device you might use to heat a building.
  4. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into _____.
  5. What does the “Photo” in photovoltaic cell mean?
  6. Energy can pass through ______ with some effort. 
  7. An electrical current is the flow of _____. 
  8. ______ percent of the sun’s energy can be converted to electricity by a photovoltaic cell? 
  9. Photovoltaic Cells are ______.
  10. Name a city/ country that could benefit from using solar panels and why.

Answers
Fossil fuels are much cheaper.
The sun’s energy will not run out for billions of years.
A thermal collector
Electricity
light
Semiconductors
electrons
15 to 20 percent
Inefficient

 

 

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