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Period 22 Solutions: Uses of Solar Energy
22.1 Using Solar Energy
1) Energy from the Sun
a) What is solar insolation?
Solar insolation is the amount of solar power received by a given area.
(Note: insolation should not be confused with insulation, which is used
to restrict the flow of heat.)
b) What is the average solar insolation received in Columbus, Ohio, in the summer?
About 200 watts/m2
What is the average solar insolation received in Columbus in the winter?
About 100 watts/m2
c)
What factors affect how much insolation a given region receives?
The latitude, the time of year, the time of day, and the amount of cloud
cover all affect the amount of solar insulation.
d) Which regions of the United States receive greater insolation? Why?
The southwestern portion of U.S. receives the most solar insolation.
Regions nearer the equator (southern portions of the U.S.) receive
more insolation than regions near the poles. Drier regions (such as the
desert southwest) receive more insolation than wetter (cloudier)
climates (such as in the southeast).
e) Which regions of the Earth receive greater insolation? Why?
The Equatorial regions, dry regions, and high elevations receive the most
solar insolation.
22.2 Factors Affecting Solar Insolation
2)
Atmospheric influences
a) Why is latitude a factor in the solar insolation received by a region?
In the high latitudes, the Sun’s rays travel through a thicker layer of
atmosphere before reaching the Earth’s surface. The thicker the
atmosphere, the greater chance for photons of light to be absorbed by
atmospheric gases or reflected back into space by clouds and particles.
b) Why is altitude a factor in the solar insolation received by a region?
At higher altitudes, sun light passes through a thinner layer of
atmosphere before reaching the Earth’s surface.
c) Why is humidity a factor in the solar insolation received by a region?
Clouds can absorb and reflect incoming sunlight.
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3)
Seasonal influences on solar insolation
a) Place the light bulb in the center of your table so that it shines on the equator
of the globe. Move the globe around the light bulb to simulate the Earth’s
seasons. (Hint: The direction that the axis of the globe points is important.)
What causes the Earth’s seasons? Is the distance of the Earth from the Sun a
factor?
Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis. The distance from
the Earth to the Sun cannot be a significant factor, since the Earth is
closest to the Sun in December.
4)
a)
Positioning a solar collector
Place the small brown square that represents a solar collector on the globe at
Columbus, Ohio. Let the light bulb in the center of your table represent the sun
shining on the collector.
How should a solar collector be positioned in Columbus, Ohio, in the summer?
On a sunny day, the most efficient position is an angle where the
incoming light rays strike the panel as close to perpendicular as
possible. Since Columbus is at a latitude of 40o North, the collector
should be placed at an angle of 40o – 10O = 30O to the ground in
summer.
b)
How should a solar collector be positioned in Columbus, Ohio, in the winter?
The collector should be placed at an angle of 40o + 15O = 55O to the
ground in winter.
c)
If a solar collector is moveable, how should it be moved throughout the day?
On sunny days, the collector is moved so that it tracks the motion of
the Sun. At sunrise, the collector is positioned vertically, facing east.
As the sun rises higher in the sky, the collector rotates to the west and
is tilted so that the sun’s rays strike its surface as close as possible to
perpendicularly.
d)
Group Discussion Question: If a solar collector is moveable, how should it be
positioned on a cloudy day?
On a cloudy day, sun rays do not strike the collector directly. The
majority of the light reaching the collector is reflected from the cloud
cover overhead. Since the reflected light comes from all directions, the
most effective position for the collector is horizontal to the ground.
5) Solar water heaters
a)
Your instructor will demonstrate a model solar water heater.
What causes the water in this solar water heater to circulate? Is a pump needed
to circulate water through the heater’s tubes? Why or why not?
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The warmed water is less dense and rises through the tubes of the
solar heater. Cool water flows into the bottom of the heater. The
convection currents in the heater circulate the water. A pump is not
needed. The surface of the heater is painted black for maximum
absorption of photons.
b)
Would it make economic sense to use a solar water heater in Ohio?
While solar-powered devices would be most effective in a sunnier region
(such as southwest U.S.), a solar water heater in Ohio may be used to
supplement a gas or electric heater.
6)
Light reflected from mirrors
Your instructor will show you how to use the light box and plane mirror to
determine the angle of reflection of light from a mirror.
a) What is meant by the refraction of light?
lines. Refracted light rays are bent.
Light rays travel in straight
b) What could cause a light ray to be refracted?
When light passes from one medium to another, the speed of the
light rays changes. This causes refraction of the rays.
c) Shine light from the light box onto the surface of a curved mirror. Draw light
beams on the diagrams below showing the path of the light reflected from
the mirror. Which type of mirror focuses light? _Concave_
Concave Mirror
d)
Convex Mirror
Shine light from the light box onto the surface of a concave and a convex
lens. Draw light beams on the diagrams below showing the path of the
light traveling through the lens. Which type of lens focuses light?
_Convex_
Convex Lens
Concave Lens
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22.3 Uses of Solar Energy
7) Converting solar energy into thermal energy
We will attempt to boil water in a metal cup using a mirror and the radiant energy
from a spotlight.
a) Why is the mirror concave? On the diagram, draw light rays to indicate the path
light rays follow after striking the mirror.
The concave mirror focuses the light reflected from it to a focal point.
Concave Mirror
b) Estimate where you should place the cup of water for maximum heat. Then check
your estimate using a piece of paper to determine the focal point of the light.
A piece of paper can be centered in front of the mirror and moved until
the reflected light appears to be concentrated on the paper. This is the
focal point of the reflected light where the cup should be placed.
c) Group Discussion Question: Did the water in your cup start to steam or even
come to a boil? Do you think this could be a practical method for converting
radiant energy into thermal energy?
After several minutes, steam may be visible rising from the water.
22.4 Solar Energy and Energy Efficient Buildings
8) Solar Energy and energy efficient homes
a)
Describe the features of an energy-efficient passive solar home.
Features of an energy-efficient passive solar home:
1. Deciduous trees or a roof overhang on the south side of a house to
shade windows from the direct sun in the summer (when the sun is
higher above the horizon), but allow the sun to shine in through
windows in the winter (when the sun is lower).
2. Embankments and non-deciduous trees on the north side of the
house to block winter winds.
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3. A thermal mass may be used to store solar energy gathered during
the day for use at night when the temperature drops.
4. Rooftop solar collectors to supplement the heating system and to
generate electricity.
5. Fiber optic light pipes to bring outside light into the interior of the
house.
6. Insulation of walls and attic to reduce heat transfer.
7. Vents to exhaust hot air from the house.