Lesson 13
Overhead 1 of 4
Handout, page 1
Science Investigation Report: Solar Powered Fans
Names ______________________________ ____________________________________
____________________________________ ____________________________________
Procedure:
1. Write a Hypothesis for each Question in the table below.
2. Use the materials provided to build an apparatus that uses the energy from
the light source to turn the fan.
3. Test each Hypothesis with the apparatus and write down your observations
in the table below.
Question
A. What would
happen if you turned
the solar panel over
so the back of the
panel is toward the
sun (or lamp)?
B. What would
happen if you
switched the wires
on the back of the
solar panel?
C. What would
happen if you move
the solar panel
further away from
the sun (or lamp)?
D.
Hypothesis
Observations
Page 2
Conclusion (Analysis of Results):
Read your observations (on page 1) for Questions A, B, and C.
Why did you get these results?
Summarize on the lines below why think you got those results.
Result A Explanation: ____________________________________________________________
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Result B Explanation: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Result C Explanation: ____________________________________________________________
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Describe how the sun powers the fans. Some words you might include are: photons, electrons,
silicon crystals, photovoltaic panel, load, current and circuit.
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Lesson 13
Handout 2
Page 1
Water Pump Design and Engineering
GROUP MEMBER NAMES/OR INDIVIDUAL NAME:_________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that pollute the environment.
• Solar radiation (solar energy) is an unlimited renewable resource.
• Solar energy can help us reduce our use of fossil fuels.
• Solar energy can be converted directly into electricity using solar panels.
• Electric motors transform electrical energy into mechanical energy (motion) that can be used to do
work (i.e. pump water).
• Motors that use electricity from the sun don't need any fossil fuels.
• There are two types of advanced circuits used in every-day engineering: parallel and series. Electricity
has only one pathway to flow in a series circuit; and more than one pathway in a parallel circuit.
CRITERIA: Design and build the water pump using radiant energy that can transport water from the bowl to
the cylinder using the materials provided. Try for the most amount of water in the fastest time.
CONSTRAINTS: At least three limits you have in designing and building your water pump.
1.
2.
3.
BACKGROUND RESEARCH:
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Page 2
DESIGN AND LABEL PARTS OF YOUR WATER PUMP:
Assemble your solar water pump and sketch the design before you test it.
Draw it to scale using graph paper. 1 sq = 1 cm
TEST YOUR WATER PUMP under the sun/lamp after you assemble it. If necessary, redesign your pump and
revise your sketch on graph paper.
PUMP WATER –NOTE TIME IN THE TABLE BELOW
MODIFY – REDESIGN YOUR PUMP AGAIN TO INCREASE ITS SPEED. Be sure to indicate on your design sketch
what you have changed. Or re-draw to scale on bottom half of graph paper.
PUMP WATER AGAIN--NOTE TIME ON THE TABLE BELOW
TIME
Amount
of
water
in
cylinder
Original Design: trial 1
Modified Design: trial 2
EVALUATE:
One strength was________________________because_________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
One weakness was ___________________because_______________________________
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IMPROVEMENTS:
Describe two changes to improve your time. Why would you make those changes? _____________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION:
Answer these questions as you would in a report to an Engineer or fellow engineer:
Which design worked better? Why? What would you do differently next time? What did you learn about
engineering design process? How does what you learned apply to the real world?
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Lesson 13
Overhead 2 of 4
Adapted from The NEED Project, Manassas, VA
Lesson 13
Overhead 3 of 4
Solar panels (or cells)
turn sunlight into electricity.
Adapted from The NEED Project, Manassas, VA
Lesson 13
Overhead 4 of 4
Extension for Lesson 13
SOLAR
How the sun releases energy. Nuclear fusion. 1:47min
http://www.teachertube.com/video/nuclear-fusion-174422
Solar power and photovoltaic cells 2:32min
http://www.neok12.com/video/Solar-Energy/zX0055756164640a50060173.htm
1. Define: radiant energy, fusion, photons, solar cell, photovoltaic
2. How can we use solar energy? Explain or draw a diagram with labels.