Using The Suns Energy Flashcards
Some of the Suns energy is stored on earth. What is it stored as?
Fossil fuels
How does the sun cause wind?
The sun heats up the air, the hot air rises and the whooshes in to take it’s place.
How can you capture the Suns electricity in a more direct way than fossil fuels and wind power?
With photocells and solar heating.
What do photocells (solar cells) do?
They generate electricity directly from the sun.
What does direct current or DC mean and what is it the same as?
Direct current means the current flows the same way. The same as a battery.
What are photocells usually made of?
Silicon.
What happens when the sun falls on the photocells made of silicon? How does this create electricity?
The silicon atoms absorbs some energy, knocking lose some electrons, which then flow around a circuit. This is electricity
Give three factors that effect the current and power output of a photocell.
1) The surface area (the bigger the cell the more electricity in produces).
2) The intensity of light (brighter light the more electricity).
3) The distance from light source
Give 4 advantages of photocells and 1 disadvantage.
No moving parts, making it sturdy an low maintenance so it lasts a long time.
No power cables or fuel.
It won’t run out.
No pollution.
No sunlight means no power.
How can curved mirrors effect the the energy from the sun?
They can focus the energy from the sun.
How and why do windows help heat up a room?
The windows let the Suns heat and light in because it has a short wavelength. This energy is absorbed by furniture which emit inferred radiation, this has a longer wavelength, which can not escape through glass.
What are the 2 most common types of energy the sun gives off?
Heat and light
