Solar energy

Safety

• Carefully review the general safety advice on the back of the box cover before starting the experiment.
• Disassemble the setup after the experiment.

Step-by-step instructions

The connector lets you join different devices to the solar battery, such as an LED. Solar batteries are usually placed on similar holders or roofs so that they are oriented to face the Sun.

When you orient the solar battery in the direction of the window, you can watch as it starts to produce electricity. The electric energy it produces powers the LED!

The buzzer lets you know when the most power is generated. How should you position your solar battery placed so the buzzer beeps the loudest?

Disposal

• Dispose of solid waste together with household garbage.

Scientific description

Energy can move from one object to another, like when energy from wind is transferred to a wind turbine’s blades. Energy can also change from one form to another.

Light  carries energy . Objects can absorb light  and convert its energy  into heat. This is why you physically feel sunshine  as warmth. Asphalt and sand heat up in the summer because they absorb light  energy !

But some materials convert light  energy  not just to heat, but to electrical energy . These materials are used to make solar panel . They catch the light  coming from the Sun  and produce electric current. This current holds electrical energy  and can make the buzzer beep.

The more light  hitting the solar panel , the more energy  can be produced. That’s why we rotate solar panels to follow the Sun’s  movement during the day. Sunflowers  follow the Sun  in the same manner. They use solar power  for their own needs!