The best way to teach kids about the sun and its energy is by discovering more about our solar system and what energy means.
Explanation of solar panels for kids.
Begin your quest at your local library where you can.
Solar energy is a complex concept to explain but you don t need a physics degree to do it.
Kid friendly solar energy facts the sun is full of energy and solar energy comes from sunlight that reaches earth.
The sun has produced energy for billions of years.
The average home or business can have 50 75 of the power they use come from solar energy.
Maybe you ve seen solar panels sitting on the.
This makes solar power a renewable energy source.
However groups of solar cells can provide electricity.
They actually produce energy from the sun s light.
Solar panels solar panels are different to solar cells.
A solar inverter helps turn the electricity into power that can be used.
Once the sun hits the panels the energy is made into electricity.
Solar pv panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity.
This converts the current into alternating current ac electricity.
Solar cells use the sun s light rather than its heat.
The steam can be used to make electricity in a power plant.
Solar power can be used for heat energyor converted into electric energy.
It has mirrors that focus large amounts of solar energy into a small area.
Renewable energy when we use solar power we don t use any of the earth s resources like coal or oil.
Solar panels do not generate electricity directly.
Solar power is also clean power that doesn t generate a lot of pollution.
This heat can be used to make steam.
When the sun shines on a solar cell the cell turns the light energy into electricity.
Here a concentration of the sun s energy by many panels is used.
The amount of sunlight that reaches earth varies depending on location time of day time of year and weather conditions.
There is also the solar thermal power plant.
These cells are often joined to form solar panels.
The electricity is fed into what is called a solar inverter.
The more panels you have on a roof the more solar electricity you produce.
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 pump pushes cold water from a storage tank through pipes in the solar panel.
They are often located on the roofs of buildings where they can receive the most sunlight.
Instead they heat up water directly.
A solar furnace can produce temperatures of up to 3 630 f 2 000 c.
The ac current is then used to power the appliances in your home.
With a few simple activities you can help your kids understand and have some fun while you re at it.
The sun shines on the solar panels and the panels absorb the energy creating direct current dc electricity.
Solar energy is a part of our everyday lives.
The water is heated by heat energy from the sun and returns to the tank.
A single solar cell makes only a little electricity.
Solar power is power generated directly from sunlight.
Solar cells also called photovoltaic cells are devices that change solar energy into electricity.
Solar panels make renewable energy.