fishing for neutrinos

Solar Lesson Plan

Investigation:
Solar Energy / Global Warming / Measuring Solar Radiation

Objectives:
Collect information on the sun and the use of solar energy as natural resource
Describe the manner in which the sun produces energy
Discuss methods of collecting and storing solar energy
Explore current uses of solar energy as an alternative energy resource
Collect information on the heating process that occurs in the lower atmosphere
Compile a list of human activities that enhance the global warming process
Discuss the techniques that are used to measure global warming
Explore the arguments that are made in the scientific community in the debate about global warming
Build a device to measure solar radiation
Collect data on solar radiation in your locale with your device
Discover the effect that certain variables have on solar radiation
Compare data on solar radiation with that collected at a distant site
Materials:
  1. E-mail and other telecommunications applications such as WWW and telnet (optional)
  2. Resources on solar energy obtained from a library or another source
  3. Two plastic soda bottles
  4. Black and white paint
  5. Playdoh
  6. Two Thermometers
  7. Computer with graphing program (optional)
  8. Directions for building the solar radiation device / obtained electronically (optional)
Activities:
  1. Research materials that are available to you (either through the library or telecommunications resources).
  2. Describe what solar energy is. (You might find it helpful to use a lamp with an ordinary light bulb to demonstrate the effects of radiated light and heat.)
  3. Describe how the sun produces it's energy.
  4. Describe the methods that are used collect this energy for use by humans to satisfy the need for sources of energy.
  5. Discuss active and passive methods of collecting solar energy. Discuss the use of photovoltaic cells (solar cells) that are used to provide voltage to electrical systems.
  6. Access NASA Spacelink by telnet or gopher at or via WWW to find resources on the sun, solar energy, and the use of solar energy as a natural resource. (optional)
  7. Take the two soda bottles that you collected for this activity, paint one black and the other white.
  8. Make a cork for each bottle from the playdoh. Insert a thermometer in
  9. Take a reading from each thermometer. Record the readings at time = 0 minuets.
  10. Put the bottles in a sunny area and take readings from the thermometers every twenty minuets. Record the readings in a data table.
  11. Graph the data from your table by hand or by using a computer equipped with a graphing program.
  12. Analyze the graphs for each of the bottles. Did the time vs. temperature ratio look the same for both of the bottles? Why or why not?
  13. Have students write a conclusion that summarizes the results of the experiment. How could this information be used in the design of as solar collector?
  14. Use the knowledge about solar energy that you have acquired to build a simple solar collection device that will heat a volume of water when exposed to the sun.
  15. Access the EcoGopher at the University of Virginia < find through the geographical listing or alphabetically through "All of the Gopher Servers in the World"> and CIESIN-NASA-EOS Global Change Information Network, Gopher to obtain information on global warming. (optional)
  16. Make a list of the human activities that contribute to the process of global warming. Discuss the Greenhouse Effect and describe the effect that the activities that you listed previously have on the environment.
  17. Organize the class in teams. Use the research that you have collected about the process of global warming and the Greenhouse effect to prepare to for a "data - based" debate. Teams take sides on the issues involved and use the data to defend their positions. Make a rule that arguments must be made or defended based on the data collected and research that is available. Of course research data is subject to scrutiny, but only as far as scientific arguments can be made to challenge it. Remind students that personal attacks are not appropriate, and cause the attackers to lose face in the eyes of those who are making sound, well thought out arguments.
  18. Make an e-mail connection using Academy One < telnet freenet-ina.cwru.edu> or the KidSphere listserv, e-mail KIDSPHERE-REQUEST@VMS.CIS.PITT.EDU with at least two other classes and hold a world conference via e-mail discussing what should be done about global warming. Each class should be divided into groups representing different countries. (optional)
  19. You may wish to publish a report on the results of your world conference.
  20. Locate two or more classes using the telnet or WWW addresses from number eighteen . These classes should be at different latitudes. Ask them to participate with you in a collaborative project on solar radiation. The addresses above are for Academy One and KidSphere. You can also find classes through other networks or discussion groups that serve teachers.
  21. Access the Antarctic Telecommunications Program journal entry that discusses solar radiation, greenhouse gas, and global warming studies that are being conducted at the South Pole. (Optional) Send e-mail to Tom Spencer between January tenth and February first and attempt to arrange an interactive chat over the Internet. Remember that satellite visibility times precess throughout the season. The satellite must be visible at the South Pole when interactive sessions are scheduled. The times for these sessions will have to be arranged well in advance of the chat. You can find out about the times that are available by e-mailing me. tspencer@spole.gov I would be eager to participate in this study as one of the sites. The South Pole is at an altitude of approximately 9300 ft. This could be accomplished through e-mail exchange. That precludes the need for satellite visibility. Another address that can be used for me is tspencer@pen.k12.va.us
  22. Access NASA Spacelink by telnet or gopher at or via WWW and get the directions for building a simple device for measuring solar radiation. Build and calibrate your device according to the instructions that you find. Classes should "standardize" by using identical materials.
  23. On a sunny day measure solar radiation at 9am, 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM at each of the locations. If you encounter cloudy days, wait a day or so until the weather clears before collecting data. Exchange data with the other sites that are participating.
  24. Collect data from each site, enter it on a spread sheet and graph the results.
  25. Discuss how latitude and time of day effect the amount of solar radiation encountered.
  26. Write a conclusion on the data that you have and the implications that the data has on the use of solar energy as a renewable resource, the process of global warming , and the effects of solar radiation on the planet and it's inhabitants.
Have fun, Tom

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