Today is 27 September 2007 -- Solar Cell Experiment

Have you ever wondered how a solar cell -- or photovoltaic cell, as it is properly named -- is made and how they operate? You have an opportunity to make one in this lab assignment. First, you should read information on solar cells. There is a good article about them on Wikipedia. Follow the link here to go to "Solar Cells." Then, follow this link to the UCLA Nanoscience page on about solar cells. Please study these sites before you come to class so you will know how the solar cell works.

After you complete the experiment, please write your report using the format that you have been taught. Also answer the "Discussion Questions" on the Nanoscience website.

Today is 14 November 2007 -- Students identified existing energy sources

Students were requested to come up with a list of ten energy sources that humans on Planet Earth use, or have been using over our history. We wrote the following list on the board:

Period 1

1. Wood

2. Solar

3. Wind

4. Gas

5. Coal

6. Hydro

7. Petroleum

8. Hydroelectric

9. Nuclear (fission reactors)

10. Electricity

Period 2

1. Manpower

2. Wood

3. Wind

4. Water

5. Coal

6. Petroleum

7. Gas

8. Geothermal

9. Nuclear (fission reactors)

10. Solar

Now, for your assignment:

1. Is this list complete? What other energy sources can you think of? Although the "ultimate" source of energy is our sun, you may also list conversion processes such as thermionic, for example. Please identify another five sources.

2. Once you have a list of 15 sources, place them in historical order and write dates of first use, if possible. For example, human manpower is likely the oldest source of energy, having been in use since there were people in a real society, perhaps 50,000 years ago.

3. Select one energy source. Research it at the library or through the Internet. Write a report about the energy source of not less than four typed pages (at least 1,000 words). Make sure you include at least the following four items:

a. Discovery -- Who discovered it? When was it discovered? What prompted the discovery?

b. Use -- How is the source mainly used? Are there other ways in which it can be used? What are they?

c. Pollution impact -- Is the source renewable? How? What byproducts result? Can they be used? How? Is the energy source hazardous to plant or animal life? What about the byproducts?

d. Cost -- How expensive is the source? What does it cost to produce per Watt (joule per second) of power?

Remember, these four items are the minimum. You should write about other aspects of the energy source, as well.

4. Select one of the inventors, discoverers or "notable individuals" associated with the energy source and provide a brief biography of that person. For example, who was Edwin Drake? For what is he remembered?

This assignment is to be completed in stages. You will have two days from date of assignment to complete parts 1 and 2. Part 3 is due 5 days later. Part 4 is due 2 days after that. This means that if the assignment is given on a Monday, the list of energy sources in historical order is due that Wednesday. The report on the energy source is due the following week Wednesday and the report on the notable person is due that Friday.

The unit assessment is planned for the same day Part 4 is handed in. Expect an essay question (3 paragraph), a design (drawing, chart, etc.) and an "evaluation" question (cost-to-energy ratio, life of resource, cost to society, etc.).