I.M.S. SCIENCE              NAME: _____________   Score: _____/20
 Environmental Mini-Project: Solar PERIOD: ___ DATE:_____

Let The Sun Shine In Lab: Solar Collectors.  

Safety Note: Caution, take care with bag of water it can be very hot.

 

Background: Solar energy is a renewable resource that can be used in various ways. One of the most common uses is heating water.  You will make your own solar collectors and experiment to see which ones heat water most effectively. You will work as a team with the other lab group at your table (Each lab group will construct a solar collector). Each groups idea; collector will be exposed to bright sunshine, preferably outdoors.

 

Materials: Cardboard boxes(small shoebox size- no more then 10 cm deep), aluminum foil, black paint, small quart size plastic bags(one for each box), water, beaker, thermometer(s) * IR temperature readers, duct tape, timer.

 

Procedures:

  1. Cut pieces of aluminum foil large enough to cover the bottom of each of the boxes.
  2. Using the paint, paint the foil black and cover the bottom of one box.
  3. Then in the other box cover it with plain aluminum foil.
  4. Fill each bag with about 500 ml of water.
  5. Tape the bag to the foil in the box.
  6. Take each box outside and place in the bright sunshine.
  7. Prop the boxes up against a wall to collect the maximum amount of solar energy.
  8. Measure the angle of the box: ______ degrees.
  9. After 30 minutes, carefully remove the bag of water. Unseal partly, and insert the thermometer.
  10. Record the temperature. Also place the value on the box.
  11. Compare your results to other lab groups results and summarize.

Lab Group: Table #

Black Al Foil

Al Foil

Start Temperature

Final Temperature

IR Temperature

Change of the box

Rank by highest temperature achieved.

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis questions:                 I.M.S. Weather  Panel  Weather Page Page13

 

  1. Compare and contrast group solar results. How do they compare?

     
  2. How does your results compare to other lab groups?

     
  3. Rank the group solar by temperature from highest to lowest?

     
  4. Can you postulate why there are differences in group solar temperatures?

 

  1. Predict the loss of heat rates for each group's solar collector.

 

  1. Design a solar experiment that we did not test with this lab.