Solar Powered Water Pumping

Science Exploration Pathway graphic. Image Description is under Featured Image Description Heading
Learning Goals

Learning Goals:

  1. Students will be able to make observations and record data about how different materials affect the speed of a solar-powered water pump.
Materials List

Handouts

Group Supplies (3-4 per group)

  • 1 Mirror
  • 1 Solar module/mirror holder
  • 2 Small clear plastic tubs with a cup measurement line marked on both (at one-cup and two-cup measurement points) Fill one plastic tub with water. (recommend small sandwich containers)
  • Small piece of masking tape
  • Stop watch

Important Links

Next Generation Science Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • 4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
  • 4-PS3-4. Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.
  • 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
  • 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Featured Image Description

Circle of arrows the top light red arrow reads “Observation” in green. It points at the orange arrow with the text “Question” in blue. Which points to the bottom right yellow arrow which reads “Hypothesis” in purple. This points to the light green arrow with the dark red text “Experiment”, which points up to the light blue arrow with the dark orange text “Analysis”. This arrow points to the light purple arrow in the upper left of the image which has faded green text reading “conclusion”. This arrow points to the original light red “Observation” arrow completing and continuing the circle.

Lesson 6 of 7 / Time: 90 mins

Students apply their understanding of a solar water pump to conduct experiments testing the variable of how different materials affects the speed of a solar powered water pump.

 

Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power

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