Solar Energy Essay, Research Paper

Solar Energy

The Word solar comes from the Latin word solaris, which means sun. Solar Energy is the act of catching light from the sun and converting it in to energy. This is not new many ancient people used solar energy. The Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and American Indians used the sun to warm their homes. There are two types of solar energy, passive and active.

If no mechanical devices are used in a solar energy system it is called passive solar energy. This is an appealing energy alternative because it is pollution free. It requires little maintenance, and needs no energy source other than sunlight. There are two categories of passive systems. One is direct solar gain, which allows plenty of direct sunshine. The windows, walls, and floor all serve as healing traps and storage centers. A second type of passive solar energy is indirect solar gain. Sunlight first strikes a thermal mass than transfers its heat to energy

If mechanical devices are used it is active solar energy. These

devices help collect, store, and distribute energy. The basic components include solar collectors, a heat exchange tank, pumps, fans, valves, controls devices, and a system to transport the energy. Active solar has a higher cost than passive systems. The key point of an active system is the collector.

The process of making electricity from the suns energy is done by photovoltaic cells also called solar cells. Solar cells are made of brass, mica, silicon, an iron plate, and a light sensitive film. The cells are usually square in shape, and many cells are combined to form a panel. On a Sunny day these panels of cells can produce about 100 watts of electricity per square yard. A solar panel works by having light pass through, which causes electrons to leave the selenium and enter the center of the film. Therefore, the film has an abundance of electrons compared to the iron plate. When the iron plate and film are connected electric current is generated. Which can be used or stored for latter use, the stored energy is stored chemically. Solar panel can be made to produce different voltages for different uses. The first modem solar cells were developed in the 1880’s.

There is ever increasing interest in solar energy. Most of the energy we now use comes from the three types of fossil fuels found on Earth oil, coal, and natural gas. Supplies of fossil fuels that took millions of years to build up are being used at the rate of over a half million tons an hour. At this rate all the supplies of fossil fluels will be gone by the year 2040. These organic fuels also cause serious damage to the environment when the are consumed. The cost of using these fluels is increasing all the time. The sun’s energy is plentiful, renewable and free. Devices for collecting the suns energy uses no fluel, causes no environmental damage, and are easy to maintain.

Bibliography

Solar Energy At Work

David Petersen

Children’s Press

1985

Solar Energy

John Hoke

Impact Books

1978

Solar Energy

Graham Rickard

G. Stevens Children’s Books

Solar Energy

Bradley M. Franklyn

Thomas Y. Crowell Company

The Energy Crisis

Bruno Leone & Judy Smith

Greehaven

1981

Harnessing The Sun

David C. Knight

Morrow Eagle Publications, Inc

1976

Exploring Solar Energy

Allan Kaufman

Prakken Publications, Inc.

1989

Solar Power

Robin Mckie

Gloucester Press

1985

The World Book Encyclopedia

1992

Volume 6

Various Web Sites

Bibliography

Solar Energy

Graham Rickard

G. Stevens Children’s Books

Solar Energy

Bradley M. Franklyn

Thomas Y. Crowell Company

The Energy Crisis

Bruno Leone & Judy Smith

Greehaven

1981

Harnessing The Sun

David C. Knight

Morrow Eagle Publications, Inc

1976

Exploring Solar Energy

Allan Kaufman

Prakken Publications, Inc.

1989

Solar Power

Robin Mckie

Gloucester Press

1985

The World Book Encyclopedia

1992

Volume 6