Sustainability challenge:
Solar energy experiment
🎯 Objective
Build a circuit using the components provided to test how much voltage you can generate from a mini solar panel versus turning the handle of the torch. Explore what the pros and cons of each method is, and learn more about renewable energy!
🔧 You will need:
- Torch
- Screwdriver
- Insulation tape
- Mini wire connectors
- AA battery pack
- 2x AA batteries
- Mini solar panel
- Voltmeter
- Crocodile clips
📖 Glossary
Renewable energy is made from resources that are replaced naturally, like wind, water and sunlight.
Kinetic energy is the name of the energy an object has due to its movement.
🧪 Science background (1)
Energy can be created in many different ways. In the torch, we used a lever mechanism to turn a generator, producing electricity that is then stored in rechargeable batteries.
This kind of mechanism is using something called kinetic energy to power the device. Kinetic energy is the name of the energy an object has due to its movement.
🧪 Science background (2)
Kinetic energy is also used a lot in renewable energy, by using the movement created by natural sources such as wind or water to produce electricity in a sustainable way.
For example, wind turbines use the kinetic energy of wind to turn their blades which drives a generator. Just like in the torch, this produces electricity that can then be stored. Wind turbines provide around 25% of the total electricity used in the UK!
🧪 Science background (3)
Solar panels are another way we produce renewable electricity in the UK. These work by turning energy from sunlight directly into electricity using something called photovoltaic cells.
Solar panels can be placed on roofs to power buildings, in solar farms where a large number of solar panels are set up together, and sometimes they are also found in products like calculators and torches.
🔧 How to set up your solar energy experiment
Follow the steps below, using the provided components and worksheet in your Torch Extensions envelope!
Lay out all the parts
Check you have got all the parts shown in the photo. You will find them in your Torch Extensions envelope.
You can power the voltmeter using the green battery from your torch, or if it has no charge, using the AA battery pack.
Step 1/4
⚠️ WARNING
Remember to never connect the battery to itself as this will make it overheat. Wrap each connection in insulation tape to make sure contacts don't touch each other accidentally.
📹 Walkthrough demo of how to set up your solar energy experiment
In this demo we first show you how to wire everything together with the battery from the torch, and then how to swap this out for the AA battery pack.
Connect the voltmeter to the solar panel and measure the voltage
Follow the video demonstration above or use the circuit diagram to see how to connect the voltmeter to the solar panel.
Record the maximum voltage you are able to read off your voltmeter when you power the solar panel with light.
Step 2/4
Connect the voltmeter to the handle-powered generator and measure the voltage
Follow the video demonstration again or use the circuit diagram to see how to connect the voltmeter to the handle-powered generator.
Record the maximum voltage you are able to read off your voltmeter when you spin the handle.
Step 3/4
Record your values
Fill in your values in the provided activity sheet.
Step 4/4
🧐 What are the pros and cons of each power generation method?
Have a think about and research what the pros and cons are of different power generation methods.