How Do You Explain Solar Energy To A Child?

Table of Contents

What is solar energy?

Solar energy comes from the sun. The sun is a powerful star at the center of our solar system. Through a process called nuclear fusion, the sun produces massive amounts of energy in the form its rays of sunlight. The sun converts over 4 million tons of matter into energy every second! This energy radiates outwards in all directions in the form of electromagnetic radiation, traveling at the speed of light until it reaches Earth (https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy-sources/solar/).

Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, and solar thermal energy. It is an abundant renewable energy source that can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Solar energy originates from the sun and is radiated to Earth constantly. Even on cloudy days, sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface. When sunlight hits the Earth, it can be converted directly or indirectly into solar power. Solar energy can be converted to electricity or used to heat water or spaces (https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/solar-energy-for-kids/).

How does the sun make energy?

The sun is a star that is very hot. The surface of the sun is about 10,000°F! The inside of the sun is even hotter, about 27 million°F. This is because of a process called nuclear fusion that happens in the core of the sun.

Nuclear fusion is when hydrogen atoms combine to make helium. This process releases a huge amount of energy in the form of heat and light. At the sun’s core, nuclear fusion converts over 600 million tons of hydrogen into helium every second! The energy released starts out as gamma rays and over millions of years makes its way to the sun’s surface, becoming visible light. This light then travels through space to reach Earth and other planets, providing the energy that supports life.

How do we capture solar energy?

We primarily capture solar energy using solar panels and solar cells. Solar panels contain many solar cells that work together to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity.

Solar cells are made of materials like silicon that are sensitive to light. When sunlight hits these materials, the photons from the light get absorbed by the material, causing electrons to break free and flow through the material to produce electricity. This process is called the photovoltaic effect.

The solar cells are wired together in a solar panel to capture more sunlight and produce more electricity. The direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels then goes through an inverter to become alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used to power homes and businesses.

Solar panel installations can be small, like solar panels on a roof, or large solar farms with thousands of panels generating electricity for the utility grid. Regardless of size, solar panels all rely on the photovoltaic effect to convert sunlight into clean, renewable electricity with no carbon emissions.

References:

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work

[2] https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/how-does-solar-power-work

What are solar panels made of?

Solar panels are made up of solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity. These solar cells are made from silicon, a material that is very good at absorbing photons from sunlight and converting them into an electric current.

The most common type of solar cells are made from crystalline silicon. This silicon is processed into thin wafers that have a positive and negative layer, forming a strong electric field. When sunlight hits these solar cells, the electric field frees electrons from the silicon, producing electricity.

Solar cells are wired together and protected from the environment by placing them under glass and sealing them in a sturdy aluminum frame. Together, the solar cells, wiring, and casing make up a complete solar panel ready to be installed on rooftops or open land.

Examples of how we use solar energy

Solar energy can be used in many ways in our everyday lives. Here are some common examples:

Solar powered calculators are one way we use the sun’s energy. Small solar cells on the calculator convert sunlight into electricity to power the calculator so it can work without batteries. As long as the solar cells are exposed to light, the calculator will keep working.

Many people also install solar panels on the roofs of their homes. These solar panels contain solar cells that absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity to power things in your house. The solar power that’s collected can be used to run lights, appliances, and more.[1]

Solar water heating uses solar thermal collectors installed on roofs to heat water for things like washing dishes and showering. The sun heats fluid inside the collectors, which then flows into a storage tank to heat up the water stored inside.[2]

Benefits of solar energy:

Solar energy is a renewable resource that will be available indefinitely as long as the sun continues to shine. According to The U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar energy comes from the conversion of light from the sun into electricity. Unlike fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas that have a limited supply and produce emissions, we won’t run out of solar energy. Using solar power reduces our dependence on these polluting fossil fuels.

Solar panels produce clean, emissions-free energy. Sources like coal and natural gas produce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change and air pollution. Solar energy systems do not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide. Widespread use of solar energy can help reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants caused by fossil fuels. Relying more on renewable solar power and less on finite resources like coal and gas is better for the environment.

Limitations of Solar Energy

Solar energy has some drawbacks that are important to consider. The main limitations of solar power are:

Doesn’t work at night – Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. At night and on very cloudy days, they cannot produce power. Additional energy storage is needed to provide power when the sun isn’t shining.

Dependent on sunny weather – Solar energy production is impacted by weather and limited sunlight. Solar panels are less effective on cloudy or stormy days, reducing the amount of electricity they generate. Areas that are frequently overcast will produce less solar power. Source 1

High upfront costs – While solar panels can save money in the long run, installing a solar energy system can be expensive upfront. The cost of purchasing and installing solar panels and related equipment like inverters and batteries may be prohibitive for some households and businesses. Source 2

Fun facts about solar energy

Here are some fascinating facts about solar energy:

The amount of sun energy that hits the earth in one hour could provide enough electricity to power the entire world for a year! (Source)

Solar energy is a renewable resource, meaning it can never run out and is constantly replenished. Other energy sources like fossil fuels are finite and will eventually be depleted.
The first modern solar cell was created in 1954 at Bell Labs. It was only 4% efficient at converting sunlight into energy.
Today’s solar panels are over 22% efficient at converting sunlight to usable energy. Some experimental solar cells in laboratories are approaching 50% efficiency.

Almost 100% of the energy produced by the sun takes over 1 million years to travel from the sun’s core to its surface.
The amount of solar energy that falls on Earth in an hour is equivalent to what the entire planet consumes in a year!
Solar power is now the cheapest form of electricity in history. The cost of solar panels has dropped over 99% in the last four decades.

Solar energy has come a long way over the past century. These fun facts show the immense untapped potential of solar power!

Solar energy activities

Doing simple hands-on science activities can help kids better understand how solar energy works. Here are some fun solar energy activities to try at home or school:

Make a solar oven using a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and black construction paper. Use it to melt chocolate, cook a hot dog or make s’mores! This demonstrates how the sun’s rays can be concentrated to produce heat.

Build a solar updraft tower from cardboard and test how airflow is created when the sun heats the air inside. This models how solar towers generate electricity.

Try a sun print by placing objects on photosensitive paper and letting the sun expose it. See how the sun can chemically alter materials.

Make a solar spinner using paper, straws and pinwheel shapes. Watch it spin in the sunlight, converting light into motion.

These types of fun, engaging hands-on activities can help kids grasp the practical applications of solar energy in a tangible way.

The future of solar energy

Solar energy has come a long way, but there are still new developments happening to make it even better. Scientists are working on ways to lower the cost of solar panels while also improving their efficiency. This means solar panels will be able to convert more sunlight into useful electricity using the same amount of materials.

Researchers are looking into using new materials like perovskites that can be printed onto surfaces like ink. Perovskite solar cells have the potential to be flexible, lightweight and low-cost. Improvements like this could enable solar panels to be installed in more places.

As solar technology improves and costs come down, we will see solar being used for more applications. Right now it’s primarily used for electricity generation, but solar could also be used for heating water, charging electric vehicles and powering off-grid devices. Solar windows that can generate electricity are also being developed.

Solar energy is already the fastest-growing renewable energy source worldwide. With continuing innovations, solar will likely supply an increasing portion of the world’s electricity moving forward.