Vernier - Solar Energy Exploration Kit

Specifications

• Box dimensions: 13 1/8 in x 7 5/8 in x 4 ½ in
• Maximum power output: 1.2 W (6 V x 200 mA in series, or 2 V x 600 mA in parallel)

What's Included

• 1 Sound and Light Board
• 1 protractor, clear, 4 in
• 1 hinged plastic box
• 6 sets of hook-and-pile fastener (2 in strips)
• 1 small water pump
• 3 Solar Panels, 2V/400mA
• 1 piece of clear, plastic tubing (5 ft x 1/4 in ID)
• 10 Chipboard Blade Sheets (3 in x 12 in) for varying solar panel angles
• 1 Power Output Pack

Activities and Concepts

Activities

• Track and document the path of the sun: Create a solar resource sun track by testing angles and taking sample data throughout the day. Use a graph to develop a sun angle curve for optimal solar panel angle.
• Compare the Solar Energy Exploration Kit result of your testing to a sun angle website.
• Water pumping time trials: Experiment in teams with how much water can be pumped over a period of time using parallel and series circuitry.

Concepts

• Clean energy; discovering and discussing solar power as an energy source
• Exploring energy transformations; designing, building, and evaluating devices that convert one form of energy into another
• Understanding circuits and electricity
• Developing and using physical models
• Designing controlled experiments
• Optimizing designs
• Analyzing data
• Learning about weather and climate