1. Please tape Solar Vocabulary into your NB for our final project
Bell Work
Please tape Solar Vocabulary into your NB for our final project
Solar Energy
How and Why?

2. U3A16: Solar Energy How can we utilize the sun’s energy?
Q1: What is the sun?
Q2: Why does Earth need the sun?

3. Q1: What is the sun?
The sun is a star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in our solar system.

4. Q1: What is the sun?
There are billions of stars in the universe, and our sun is the closest star to Earth.

5. Q2: Why does Earth need the sun?
Life on Earth would not exist without the heat and light provided by the sun.

6. Q2: Why does Earth need the sun?
The sun’s gravity keeps the Earth in its orbit.

7. Q2: Why does Earth need the sun?
It causes weather phenomena & drives the hydrologic cycle.

8. Q2: Why does Earth need the sun?
It plays a role in tides.

9. 2 Days of FACTS to PONDER…
Burning all the coal, oil, gas and wood in the world would only equal a few days of the Sun’s energy hitting the earth.
2 Days of

10. 1 year of energy use by all humans
FACTS to PONDER…
1 year of energy use by all humans
1 hour of the Sun’s energy hitting Earth

11. Six Degrees of the Sun Game
Can you trace your energy back to the sun?

12. Where does solar energy go?

13. Average Daily Solar Radiation

14. Passive Vs. Active Solar Energy
Passive - Uses the heat energy of the sun without mechanical or electrical equipment
Active – Uses mechanical and electrical equipment to enhance energy production.

15. Sun’s Path and Seasons In the northern hemisphere, the winter sun…
Which side of the house gets the most sun in summer?
Which side of the house gets the most sun in winter?
In the northern hemisphere, the winter sun…
• Rises south of due east
• Is low in the southern sky, even at midday
• Sets south of due west
In the northern hemisphere, the summer sun…
• Rises north of due east
• Is high overhead at midday
• Sets north of due west

16. Sun Angles & Windows
An energy-smart building has eaves and south-facing windows carefully sized and placed to:
Minimize solar gain in summer by keeping the sun off the southern wall and out of the windows
Maximize solar gain in winter by letting the sun warm the southern wall and enter its windows
What can you do for any building – inside or out – to minimize solar gain in summer and maximize it in winter?