Explanation Of Solar Panels For Kids

Before you can understand how solar panels work you need some knowledge about the sun itself.

Explanation of solar panels for kids.

Once the sun hits the panels the energy is made into electricity. The ac current is then used to power the appliances in your home. They are often located on the roofs of buildings where they can receive the most sunlight. Unlike a generator a solar panel is a solid state way of producing electricity meaning that it has no moving parts.

These cells are made of semi conductive materials most often silicon a material that can conduct electricity while maintaining the electrical imbalance needed to create an electric field. They actually produce energy from the sun s light. This makes solar power a renewable energy source. The sun shines on the solar panels and the panels absorb the energy creating direct current dc electricity.

A pump pushes cold water from a storage tank through pipes in the solar panel. Solar panels do not generate electricity directly. Solar cells also called photovoltaic cells are devices that change solar energy into electricity. Solar panels solar panels are different to solar cells.

These cells are often joined to form solar panels. A common misconception about solar panels is that they produce energy from the sun s heat. The more panels you have on a roof the more solar electricity you produce. The sun has produced energy for billions of years.

This heat can be used to make steam. However groups of solar cells can provide electricity. A single solar cell makes only a little electricity. Solar power is power generated directly from sunlight.

Solar panels make renewable energy. The amount of sunlight that reaches earth varies depending on location time of day time of year and weather conditions. It has mirrors that focus large amounts of solar energy into a small area. Renewable energy when we use solar power we don t use any of the earth s resources like coal or oil.

The average home or business can have 50 75 of the power they use come from solar energy. Solar energy is a part of our everyday lives. Solar pv panels are comprised of many small photovoltaic cells photovoltaic meaning they can convert sunlight into electricity. Solar power is also clean power that doesn t generate a lot of pollution.

This converts the current into alternating current ac electricity. When the sun shines on a solar cell the cell turns the light energy into electricity. Solar energy is a complex concept to explain but you don t need a physics degree to do it. The best way to teach kids about the sun and its energy is by discovering more about our solar system and what energy means.

Kid friendly solar energy facts the sun is full of energy and solar energy comes from sunlight that reaches earth. Solar cells use the sun s light rather than its heat. Maybe you ve seen solar panels sitting on the. Instead they heat up water directly.

With a few simple activities you can help your kids understand and have some fun while you re at it. Solar power can be used for heat energyor converted into electric energy. Begin your quest at your local library where you can. The water is heated by heat energy from the sun and returns to the tank.

A solar inverter helps turn the electricity into power that can be used. Here a concentration of the sun s energy by many panels is used. A solar furnace can produce temperatures of up to 3 630 f 2 000 c.