Life Skills:

• Thinking & Reasoning
• Communication
• Employability

Time Frame:
1 class period that runs 45 minutes.

Group Size:
Pairs

Summary:
New ...pdf. update in 2008. This is an update of the original TLC module using the original parts in a modified form to protect them. Included on page 18 of the updated PDF is sources for building your own. Students will identify uses of photovoltaic solar cells in our society today. Students will discover the potential of solar cells by using them to produce electricity in different applications. Students will make observations and measurements.

Main Curriculum Tie:
Career and Technical Education Introduction
Standard 10 Objective 10-2
Analyze communication, energy and power, and transportation technologies.

Career Connections:

• Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Aerospace Engineers
• Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Materials:
Teachers will need the original parts to the Solarex Photovoltaic Demonstration Kit or they will need to order parts from other vendors which is included on page 18 of the Teacher Resources. The information on how the original parts were converted is found on page 18 and 19 of the Teacher Resources PDF file. To convert the original kit into a lasting module, a sheet of Kortron and T-mold for the box and some Radio Shack switches were used.

Background For Teachers:
In the Spring of 1994, when it was learned that the parts for the Solarex photovoltaic demonstration kit were not going to be readily available anymore, the technology teachers in the Weber School District decided that a way was needed to protect the components. The connecting wires in the original kit were the most frustrating as they were constantly broken. It was decided to take the original components and have them mounted and hard wired. We came up with a modification that has worked quite well. The images on this document come from a variety of sources. They are either public domain, royalty fee, created by the author, or used by arrangement with the copyright holders. No permission is granted for the copying or re-use of any images used in this document, copyrighted or otherwise. Alternative Energy - Photovoltaics© Mike Breen - Author of document. Individual teachers within the state of Utah rights to print this document for use in their classes.

Student Prior Knowledge:
They need to be able to read, write, and be able to do some arithmetic.

Intended Learning Outcomes:
Students will identify uses of photovoltaic solar cells in our society today. Students will discover the potential of solar cells by using them to produce electricity in different applications. Students will make observations and measurements.

Instructional Procedures:
Students will need to read the booklet and answer questions as they do the activity. Students will need to perform the experiments that are required to answer the questions. The teacher needs to have the photovoltaic demonstrator out for students and ready for use.

Attachments

• Photovoltaics_Cover_Page.pdf
  Photovoltaic Cover Page that may be used to make booklets for reading as a class.
• Photovoltaics_Teacher_Resources.pdf
  This is the same file with the addition of detailed teacher resources that are used in this described curriculum.
• Photovoltaics_Student_Pages.pdf
  This curriculum was updated in 2008! This link is the student pages only. The computer can be set to read the pages of the curriculum to the non-reader, struggling reader, or Special Needs Student. Acrobat Reader 6 and Windows XP is required for this. To have the computer read the entire document use Shift+Ctrl+B. To read 1 page of the document the shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+V.

Web Sites

• U.S. Department of Energy - Solar Technolgies Program
  The main page of the Solar Technologies Program with links to Photovoltaic's and Solar Heating and lighting.
• Photovoltaic Video - Large MPEG format
  Direct download of U.S. Department of Energy Large MPEG format of video used in this curriculum. If you have a faster connection speed this is a bigger screen. Download and save to your computer.
• Photovoltaic Video - Small QuickTime
  Direct download of U.S. Department of Energy QuickTime Video used in this curriculum. Use this link if you have a slower connection speed. Download and save to your computer.
• Photovoltaic video - Small MPEG
  Direct download of U.S. Department of Energy MPEG video that is used in this curriculum. If you have a slower connection speed use this link to download and save on your computer.
• Photovoltaics video - Large QuickTime
  Direct download of U.S. Department of Energy Large QuickTime format of video used in this curriculum. If you have a faster connection speed this is a bigger screen. Download and save to your computer.
• Adobe.com
  Adobe Reader Downloads
• U. S. Department of Energy
  This is the link for the video that the students watch in the curriculum. It is available in Quick Time or MPEG formats. The video and formats are direct linked in the links above.

Assessment Plan:
The student will complete a worksheet, and perform the experiments with photovoltaic cells. They will take measurements of amperage and voltage.

Bibliography:
Bieszad, M. (Photographer). (July 15, 2001). American solar challenge 2001 (sunrayce). [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 26, 2002, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/10155.jpg Bureau of labor statistics, U.S. Department of labor, Aerospace engineers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 Edition, Retrieved October 15, 2002, from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos028.htm. Bureau of labor statistics, U.S. department of labor, Engineers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Retrieved January 23, 2008, from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm Bureau of labor statistics, U.S. department of labor, Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 Edition, Retrieved October 15, 2002 from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos227.htm Harms, H., & Swernofsky, N., (1999). Electricity and electronics, In Technology interactions. pp. 208-307. New York, New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Gretz, W., (Photographer). (July 1, 1999). Dangling rope marina, lake powell, utah. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 26, 2002, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/08056.jpg Gretz, W., (Photographer). (June 23, 1998). Installation of pv shingles at the outdoor test facility (otf). [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/06286.jpg Gretz, W., (Photographer). (May 8, 2002.) Walkway lights at nrel. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 10, 2003, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/11106.jpg Mitchell, R., (Photographer). (n.d.). Siemens solar industries crystalline silicon solar cell. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 10, 2003, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/04065.jpg NASA and NSSDC., (Photographer). (n.d.). Hubble space telescope. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 10, 2003, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/10540.jpg NASA and NSSDC., (Photographer). (n.d.) Mars pathfinder rover, sojourner. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 10, 2003, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/10542.jpg National center for photovoltaics, (n.d.). Quick facts about pv, learning about pv, about photovoltaics. U.S. Department of energy photovoltaics. Retrieved October 26, 2002, from http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv pvmenu.cgi?site=ncpv&idx=3&body=infores.html Thode, B., Thode, T. (2002) Technology in Action. (p287.). Peoria: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Williamson, R., (Photographer). (March 1, 2000) . Rooftop PV system on the zion visitor center. [Photograph], National renewable energy laboratory photographic information exchange. Retrieved October 26, 2002, from http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/Jpegs/09227.jpg U.S. department of energy, Turning sunlight into electricity. [MPEG or Quick Time Movie] Energy efficiency and renewable energy: Solar energy technologies program: Solar multimedia presentations., Retrieved March 10, 2006, from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/multimedia.html Utah vocational core curriculum. (1986). Photovoltaics. Salt Lake City: Utah State Office of Education Utah vocational core curriculum. (1992). Photovoltaics. Salt Lake City: Utah State Office of Education

Author:
MICHAEL BREEN

Created Date :
Apr 15 2003 16:23 PM