Solar Energy Science Concepts
Teacher Slides
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First Name | Last Name | Aladdin Account ID | Worksheet |
First | Last | JMlY…W8Q2 | P1S1 (= Period 1 Student 1) |
The Sun means so much to our lives.
It’s why we wake up in the morning and go to bed at night. It’s why we enjoy seasons and weather.
Scientists are curious about everything about the Sun.
Where it is, how it moves, and where it’ll be.
Solar energy science is
the science of the Sun
It helped our ancestors navigate land and sea, create calendars to keep track of time, and develop civilizations that turned into the modern society we live in today.
To fight climate change,
we need renewable energy. Where else to look to,
but the Sun?
By learning some basic solar energy science, you too can design solar power systems that capture the most solar energy and protect mother Earth!
Challenge:
What Do You Already Know About the Sun?
Daily Changes of Solar Azimuth Angle
Predict: It’s summer in MA. The Sun rises in the…
The solar azimuth angle shows the direction of the Sun
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Finding directions using your hands
Point your left hand towards your front.
This is north (N).
Point your right hand towards your right.
This is east (E).
Can you find other directions with your hands?
The azimuth angle goes from 0º (North) to 180º (South)
The azimuth angle increases clockwise
The azimuth angle decreases counterclockwise
Investigate
Aladdin Tip #1: Heliodon
To open the Sun & Time Settings panel, choose the sun icon in the menu bar.
In Sun & Time Settings, you can turn on the Heliodon to visualize the Sun’s position at any given date, time, and location.
You can also turn on Animate to visualize the Sun’s movement throughout the day.
Aladdin Tip #2: Changing the View
The 2D mode is easy for finding directions and measuring distances. You will also find it useful for designing solar farms in the future.
In the 2D mode, north is upwards by default.
The top left corner of Aladdin shows how to rotate, zoom, pan, and switch to 2D mode (bird’s eye view).
The shortcut keys will depend on the operating system of your computer (e.g., Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, etc.).
Aladdin Tip #3: Axes and Compass
The compass shows all four directions.
The blue axis shows north and south.
The red axis shows east and west.
Discuss: If we walk towards the direction of the sunrise in summer in Boston, will we go due east?
Connect: Which direction should a solar panel face?
Daily Changes of Solar Elevation Angle
Predict: When is the shadow the shortest?
The solar elevation angle shows the height of the Sun
0º: just above the horizon
90º: directly overhead
Investigate
Discuss: Which direction is the shadow pointing, when it is the shortest in a day?
The tilt angle changes how the solar panel is oriented in the vertical direction.
There are two ways to change the tilt angle of a solar panel in Aladdin:
Aladdin Tip #4: Solar Panel Tilt Angle
Connect: Which direction should a solar panel face?
Projection Effect
Predict: When is the Sun the strongest?
Predict: If we put a solar panel on the ground, at what time(s) of day will it produce the most energy output?
Investigate Part I:
Calculate the daily sunbeam angle
Sunbeam angle: how directly the Sun shines onto a surface
Sunbeam angle (or angle of incidence)
0º: The Sun shines directly onto the surface
< 90º: The Sun shines at an angle onto the surface
90º: The Sun doesn’t shine onto the surface at all
Aladdin Tip #5: Draw Sunbeam
To draw a sunbeam from the Sun to a solar panel and see the sunbeam angle, right click on the solar panel and select “Draw Sun Beam”.
Part II:
Calculate the daily energy output
Energy output
A solar panel captures light energy from the Sun and outputs electric energy.
While your physics classes may use Joules (J) as the energy unit, solar energy is usually represented in kilowatt-hour (kWh).
1 kWh is much more than 1 J!
Aladdin Tip #6: Analyze Energy Output
To analyze the energy output of all solar panels, select “Main Menu > Analysis > Solar Panels > Analyze Daily Yield” or “Analyze Yearly Yield”,
Discuss: How does the sunbeam angle affect the energy output? What angle produces the maximum output?
Solar Panel Tilt Angle in Summer
Predict: What range of tilt angles will produce the most energy in summer in Boston?
The solar elevation angle is 71º at 12pm on 6/22 (summer solstice) in Boston.
Discuss: Why do some tilt angles produce more energy on a summer day than other tilt angles?
Seasonal Changes of Solar Angles
Which season(s) could this be?
Predict: If we put a solar panel on the ground, in which season will it produce the most energy output in a day?
Discuss: What can we change to produce the most output in different seasons?
Solar Panel Tilt Angle in Fall
Predict: What range of tilt angles will produce the most energy in fall in Boston?
The solar elevation angle is 47º at 12pm on 9/22 (fall equinox) in Boston.
Discuss: Why don’t the best tilt angles for summer produce the most daily output in fall?
Discuss: What range of tilt angles produces the most energy in winter?
The solar elevation angle is 24º at 12pm on 12/22 (winter solstice).
Discuss: How much energy can a solar panel produce in winter, compared with summer and fall?
Solar Panel Tilt Angle:
How to Optimize for a Year?
Predict: What range of tilt angles will produce the most energy in a year?
The solar elevation angle is 47º at 12pm on 9/22 (fall equinox) in Boston.
Discuss: What range of tilt angles produces the most energy in a year?
Discuss: Why are the best tilt angles for summer NOT the best for yearly output?
Hands-On Challenge:
Optimize It!