KIDS

Solar Power
The Sun gives off heat and light endlessly. We can make electricity from the sunlight using solar cells or from the suns heat by using large lenses or mirrors to heat up fluids and turn a generator.

Hey, Kids! It is fun to learn about solar power. Print out DTE Energy activities, find great experiments and explore fun solar energy Web sites using the information below.

Contents
What is Solar Energy? ........................................................................................ Page 2 What is the Suns Energy?
DTE Energy Activity

How Can We Harness Solar Energy? ................................................................. Page 5 LIGHT Solar Cells
DTE Energy Activity

HEAT Passive and Active

DTE Energy Activity

Why Renewable Solar Energy? ........................................................................ Page 10 Advantages and Challenges

DTE Energy Activity

Learn More! ........................................................................................................ Page 12

May 2010

Page 1

What Is Solar Energy?

Solar Activity One
This activity is designed to explain solar energy using new vocabulary terms.

What is the Suns Energy?

Fill in the blank to discover what causes the wind. Solar Energy is _______ ________ made by the sun, which people can harness to _______________ heat and electricity. This type of energy reaches the Earth in the form of heat, light or electromagnetic radiation, all of which can be collected to produce power. The sun makes energy through _______ ________. Billions of times each second, ________ _______collide with each other and form helium. The collision creates large amounts of energy. Every second, 4.7 million tons of ________ _______ become energy! The Earth absorbs approximately 35 percent of the energy that reaches it from the sun. The remaining 65 percent of energy is used up in evaporating moisture which collects to form clouds. You can see some of the suns energy-(like sunlight), and feel the suns energy-(like heat). _______ ________ given off by the sun is called infrared (IR) light. Another kind of energy the sun gives off is ultraviolet (UV) light. We cannot see ultraviolet light because it is invisible. It is ultraviolet light that causes sunburns! Without the constant flow of light energy from the sun, the Earths temperature would be -237 degrees Celsius and no life would exist. Life on Earth depends on the energy radiated from the sun. People, plants and animals need sunshine to live!

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Vocabulary Words: Hydrogen atoms- a basic element of matter that makes up most of the sun Radiant energy- electromagnetic waves of heat and light Nuclear fusion tiny bits of matter called atoms join together and release energy, powering stars in space Generate- to produce one form of energy (like electricity) from another (like solar energy) Words can be used more than once.

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Answer Key - What is the Suns Energy?

Solar Energy is radiant energy made by the sun, which people can harness to generate heat and electricity. The sun makes energy through nuclear fusion. Billions of times each second, hydrogen atoms collide with each other and form helium. The collision creates large amounts of energy. Every second, 4.7 million tons of hydrogen atoms become energy! You can see some of the suns energy-(like sunlight), and feel the suns energy-(like heat). Radiant energy given off by the sun is called infrared (IR) light.

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How Can We Harness Solar Energy?

The suns energy can be harnessed in a variety of ways. We can use the suns light or the suns heat to power our world!

Solar Light Technology

Solar Activity Two This activity is designed to explain the use of photovoltaic technology to kids.

LIGHT Solar Cells

With the help of technology, people can convert the suns light directly into electricity. Unscramble the words below to find out how this is possible! [HINT: the first letter of the word is capitalized for you.] _______1______, or PV for short can ____2_____ sunlight directly into electricity! ctooativhloP msnrrafTo PV systems are also known as ______3_______ and work without using any of the suns Srloa lCels (two words) heat. In 1839, a French scientist named Edmund Becquerel discovered the Photovoltaic effect. PV cells were developed in 1950 for use as part of the space program. The _____4_____ telescope uses _________5__________. lubHbel ltcPvloahoteo slnPae (two words) Today, PV is commonly found in _____6______ and _____7______. PV systems Ctsloruclaa etahcWs are made up of chemically treated ________8_________ that absorb sunlight. loincSis Wsfrea (two words) An electric current is produced in the silicon and transferred to a ______9_______. e Matl idrG (two words) The electricity it produces can be used right away or can be stored in batteries. PV takes sunlight and turns it into electricity!

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Answer Key - LIGHT Solar Cells

1. photovoltaic 2. transform 3. solar cells 4. Hubbell 5. photovoltaic panels 6. calculators 7. watches 8. silicon wafers 9. metal grid

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Solar Heating
The suns heat can also be used to produce energy to power our world! There are two types of THERMAL solar energy systems that use the suns energy. One type is called passive and the other active. Complete the activity below to find out more! Solar Activity Three This activity is designed to explain the use of thermal solar energy systems.

HEAT: Passive and Active

Passive solar energy systems heat objects directly from the sunshine. Active solar energy systems collect heat in some material, like water or air, that can absorb the suns heat. Hot air or water is then transferred through pipes and stored for later use. Sort the pictures below. Make a circle around the pictures that shows passive heating. Make a rectangle around the pictures that shows active heating.

The Sun coming through the window makes the cat feel warm.

The sun heats the water. Then the hot water is stored in pipes. The pipes bring hot water to your sink!

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The power tower absorbs heat energy from the sun. Many mirrors track the sun and focus sunlight on a heat collection point at the top of the tower. Water is heated to steam. The steam turns a generator to make electricity.

The tree blocks out the suns heat as it passes over the house, keeping the house cool without using an air conditioner.

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Answer Key - HEAT: Passive and Active

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Why Renewable Solar Energy?

Solar energy is renewable because the sun will continue to burn for billions of years. When people harness solar power, we can still count on the sun to exist today and in the future. Solar Activity Four: This activity is designed to explain the advantages and challenges of solar energy.

Solar Energy Advantages and Challenges

Can you think of the reasons we would want to use solar as a source of power? Find the missing words in the following statements to find out the advantages and challenges of solar energy!
Across 2. Solar energy is _____________. 3. Solar energy requires a _____________ area of space. 5. Solar energy does not pollute the environment because it is _____________. 6. Solar panels can be ______________. Down 1. Solar energy can be used more than once; it is _________________. 4. Darkness and bad weather ____________ the supply of sunlight.

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Answer Key - Solar Energy Advantages and Challenges

Across 2. Solar energy is available all over the world; it is plentiful. 3. Solar energy requires a large area of space. 5. Solar energy does not pollute the environment because it is clean. 6. Solar panels can be expensive. Down 1. Solar energy can be used more than once; it is renewable. 4. Darkness and bad weather interrupt the supply of sunlight.

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Learn More!
The internet has great resources to find out more about solar energy. Follow these links to have fun and learn more about solar as a renewable source of power!

Fun Solar Power Websites For Kids

Alliant Energy Kids is a great site to learn more about solar energy, with crafts, games, and experiments on solar power. http://www.alliantenergykids.com/EnergyandTheEnvironment/RenewableEnergy/022400 Energy Kids is a website created by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to teach kids the basics on solar energy. You will find fun facts on how to generate electricity directly from solar cells, how to use the heat from the sun to operate steam electric power plants, how to use a solar energy collector and about the best places to harness the suns light and heat energy. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=solar_home-basics Kids Saving Energy is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy as a place for kids to find out about renewable energy, including solar power. Check out the games, tips, and facts on this site! http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/renergy.html Energy Quest teaches you about renewable energy, including solar power! Find solar facts, search for solar activities and games, and enjoy the Energy Story chapter on solar power. Kids Homepage: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/ Solar Homepage: http://energyquest.ca.gov/solar/index.html Sunsite Funsite is a kids website that explains how solar energy can be harnessed to create electricity to power our lives. You will enjoy solar activities and learn great facts. http://www.tucsonelectric.com/Community/EducationalServices/solar/frameset.htm Kids Korner is a kids website dedicated to promoting education on renewable energy resources. You will find great activities and fun facts on the sun and solar power. http://nespower.apogee.net/kids/?ver=kknespower&utilid=nespower&id=16298

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Games and Activities

Solar Energy Activity from Kids Korner: Make your very own Solar Cooker oven from a pizza box. Get cooking with the suns energy! http://nespower.apogee.net/kids/templates/kidskorner/pdf/solarpower.pdf

Thank you for using the DTE Energy Solar Power Guide for Kids! Continue to explore renewable energycheck out DTE Energys guides to wind and renewable basics!

May 2010

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