Solar Car Challenge: Background Research on Car Design

Solar Car Student
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
physics
Energy
electricity
solar
motion
Engineering
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Learning Goal(s):

To introduce students to the problem that this project will attempt to solve: building a solar car that will go straight, far, and fast to win a race.

Students will play around with the solar car kits to familiarize themselves with the materials in preparation for the solar car engineering challenge. View full description >>

Solar Car Challenge: Criteria, Constraints and Background

Solar Car Student
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
physics
Energy
electricity
solar
motion
Engineering
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Learning Goal(s):

To introduce students to the problem that this project will attempt to solve: building a solar car that will go straight, far, and fast to win a race.

Students will play around with the solar car kits to familiarize themselves with the materials in preparation for the solar car engineering challenge. View full description >>

Solar Car Challenge: Introduction of the Problem

2-wheel-driveSolarCar_IMG_4600.jpg
Average Rating:
5
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
physics
Energy
electricity
solar
motion
Engineering
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):

To introduce students to the problem that this project will attempt to solve: building a solar car that will go straight, far, and fast to win a race.

Students will play around with the solar car kits to familiarize themselves with the materials in preparation for the solar car engineering challenge. View full description >>

Creating the Most Effective Solar Heater

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students demonstrate the ability to evaluate competing solutions to the problem of increasing the heat energy transferred to a vial of water.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This part can be staged as a competition or simply a personal challenge to beat the standard solar heater created in part 1. During this stage of the lesson students are asked to analyze data and results from part 2 and identify which characteristics of a solar heater maximize its effectiveness. View full description >>

Manipulating Design Variables on Solar Heaters

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 20 min
Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students demonstrate the ability to evaluate competing solutions to the problem of increasing the heat energy transferred to a vial of water.

Part 2 builds on part 1, asking students to design a solar heater that more effectively collects solar energy. Students are provided with various building supplies and are asked to change one variable from the standard to construct a new, more effective solar heater. View full description >>

Making the Standard Solar Heater

Simple Solar Water Heater
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students will learn that sunlight energy can be transformed into other forms of energy and that the amount of sunlight energy captured by an object can be quantified and measured.

In part one of the activity students will be asked to create a simple solar heater, measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to a vial of water. Students will construct the solar heater, place a set amount of water into a vial in the collector and place it in direct sunlight. After a set time... View full description >>

Home Energy Consumption

Kill-a-Watt Meter
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Power
Energy
electricity
energy efficiency
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand power and energy as they relate to their electricity use. Students will be able to calculate energy consumption and the associated costs. Students will investigate ways they could reduce their own energy consumption

Students will calculate the energy consumption of a set of common household devices based on their operating power rating and then investigate the power consumption of other devices in their homes. View full description >>

Solar Car Engineering Challenge Unit

Average Rating:
5
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Engineering
solar energy
renewable resources
measurement
physics
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Learning Goal(s):

After the completion of this lesson students will be able to: • Describe how solar cars work • Accurately record and measure data • Use data to propose changes to experimental designs • Research a topic • Complete a full engineering assignment • Explain pros/cons of various prototypes • Work successfully within a group to accomplish a specific task • Brainstorm various ideas

Students will build a solar car using instructions provided (Sol Run). They will take measurements of their car and then test to see how fast it can travel a 3m track. After students obtain their initial results they will research how to improve the car’s top speed and then design and build an improved model. View full description >>

How Tilt Angle Affects Solar Cell Output

Solar Circuit
Average Rating:
0
Unit:
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Energy
renewable resources
inquiry
electricity
solar power
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Learning Goal(s):

After the completion of this lab, students will be able to describe how the angle of light exposure affects solar cell output, have practiced using a multimeter, and have analyzed collected data.

Students will expose solar cells to a light source from a set distance and measure the output with a multimeter. Students will change the angle that the light source strikes the solar panel and measure the resultant output. They will compare and contrast the outputs that the different angles produce. View full description >>

How Light Intensity Affects Solar Cell Output

Solar Circuit
Average Rating:
0
Unit:
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Energy
renewable resources
inquiry
electricity
solar power
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Learning Goal(s):

After the completion of this lab, students will be able to describe how the light intensity affects solar cell output, have practiced using a multimeter, and have analyzed collected data.

Students will expose solar cells to a light source from different distances and measure the output with a multimeter. They will compare and contrast the outputs that the different distances produce. View full description >>