Description

• Solar power comes from the sun

• The sun is a big star that provides heat and energy to the Earth and the rest of the planets in our solar system

History

• Solar power has been around since the formation of the sun

• The Ancient Romans used passive solar power by building their homes to face the Sun in the southern sky

• Auguste Mouchout created the first solar powered steam engine in 1861

• Albert Einstein was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics for his work on creating electricity through solar cells

• Since the 1950’s, solar power has been powering our satellites that orbit the Earth

How Do We Get Solar Power From The Sun?

• The sun’s energy is collected in solar panels by solar cells that convert it into electricity

• These cells are called photovoltaic cells

• This means that when the cells are exposed to sunlight, the produce electricity

• This electricity is used directly or stored in batteries for later use

Now here’s a clip from Bill Nye the Science Guy to help go over solar power with us!

Solar Power Today• Solar power can be used to power satellites, solar power plants,

cars, houses, street lamps, and even hats!

Here’s another clip from Bill Nye the Science Guy about solar power today!

Here’s another clip about solar power being used today!

Here’s one final clip about solar power being used today!

Advantages of Solar Power• It is a renewable resource. We do not have to worry about the sun ever going

away (after all, if it did, we would be dead). Although it may disappear behind a few clouds for a few minutes, disappear completely at night, or for hours during the winter, we can always expect it to come back in full force

• Solar power is non-polluting. Unlike oil, solar power does not emit any greenhouse gases or carcinogens into the air. Solar power is good for the environment (at least, it certainly is not harmful like other sources of power!)

• The light and energy from the sun is free. In other words, once you have your solar lights or solar panels set up, etc., you are not going to have to pay to run them

• Solar cells require very little maintenance, greatly because there are no moving parts that must be maintained

• Solar cells can last a lifetime

• Solar power is silent powered. The methods used to find and extract oil can be very noisy. Even wind power can create a lot of noise. Solar power, on the other hand, is completely silent

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Advantages-of-Solar-Power&id=260252

Disadvantages of Solar Power

• Doesn't work at night

• Very expensive to build solar power stations. Solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime

• Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate

• Storing solar energy can be very difficult

• The Earth as a whole uses 12 trillion watts of power per day

• The sun produces 84 trillions watts of power to the Earth every day

• That would run a 100 watt light bulb for 95,890,410 years!!!

• Let’s say Burns Park has 500 hundred 100 watt light bulbs in it. If all the energy from the sun came to Burns Park for one day…the lights would stay on for 191,780 years STRAIGHT!!!

So if the sun produces 84 trillion watts and we only use 12 trillion (not to mention 98% of that 12 trillion is NOT solar energy), then…..

What Do You Think The Future Holds For Solar

Power And How Will You Be Affected By It?