NASA’s Ready-to-Go Solar Science - PowerPoint Presentation

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NASA’s Ready-to-Go Solar Science and Solar Energy Activities for the k-5 Classroom Ruth Paglierani

Center for Science Education

Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley

November 1, 2014Slide2

The Solar Science and Solar Energy Connection Knowing about the Sun enhances understanding of solar energy Solar energy activities provides concrete, safe, first-hand experiences of the Sun Great opportunities for using math Authentic uses of expository writingSolar Science and Solar EnergySlide3

Setting the Science Stage Sun/Earth/Moon system Size of the Sun Sun/Earth Distance Scale Motion and the SunSlide4

Pre- and Post-EvaluationSlide5

Solar Science and Solar Energy

Something to write aboutSlide6

Exploring the comparative size and scale of the Sun, Earth and Moon with a student-created model.How Big is the Sun?Slide7

Math: prediction, estimation, comparative sizesSlide8

Scientific and academic language: labeling, captions, definitions, explanationMore Detailed ModelsSlide9

Exploring the distance between the Sun and Earth and their comparative sizesExploring ScaleSlide10

Capturing cyclical shadows through observation and illustrationChanging ShadowsSlide11

Safe and easy-to-construct paper plate and plastic straw sundialUsing Shadows to Tell TimeSlide12

Inquiry-driven discussionCreating and using modelsHands-on experimentationExpository reading Science journals

Multiple Learning ModesSlide13

Current on-line version of Eye on the SkySlide14

Solar cookers collect the Sun’s energy and convert it to heat. The Sun emits light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Most of the invisible light is blocked by Earth’s atmosphere.The majority of energy reaching the Earth’s surface is visible light.

Putting all that sunlight

to workSlide15

Why use dark materials with solar cookers? Dark objects absorb much of the light shining on them, while shiny, light objects reflect much of the lightAbsorbed light is converted to heatTake a look at a zebra and the differentiated temperatureof black and white stripes.Credit Steve LoweSlide16

Some solar cookers work by collecting and focusing the Sun’s light so that food can be cooked more effectively. Using Concentrated EnergyCurved concentrator or parabolic cookersSlide17

Interior is dark and absorbs light and surfaces HEAT UP. Trapping and Using Heat

Box cookers

Bag cookers

The cooker is enclosed.

The top allows light to enter through glass or plastic.Slide18

Some cookers have dark surfaces AND are enclosed with plastic or glass AND have reflectors outside the enclosure collecting and channeling light into the oven. Combined Effects: Maximizing the Sun

Panel cookersSlide19

Visible light passes through enclosure materials. The interior material absorbs the visible light, heats up and emits infrared light.The IR is absorbed/reflected back inside by the enclosing materials.The solar oven heats up and we are cooking W/O gas!Greenhouse EffectSlide20

B= Bring in the maximum sunlightA= Absorb energy from sunlightK= Keep the heat inside the cookerE= Eat and Enjoy food cooked by the Sun.

B-A-K-E: The Basics of Solar EnergySlide21

Results, if the Sun cooperates…Slide22

1st Year: Pizza CookersSlide23

Color/heat Experiment2nd Yr: Experiment

Question:What color is most absorbent of light?

Prediction:

Black

Data Collection:

Recorded Temp

ConclusionSlide24

Concepts: Direct sunlight ReflectionHeating foodHeating AirInsulationMore BackgroundSlide25

Ruth Paglieraniruthp@ssl.berkeley.eduContact Information