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P4 - Reading activity

  • Choose one of the texts and read to learn more about the Sun.

    1) How Does the Sun Make Energy?

    Read and watch the material on WONDEROPOLIS to find out. Take the quiz to test your knowledge.

    2) Can You Collect Sunlight?

    Read and watch the material on WONDEROPOLIS to find out. Take the quiz to test your knowledge.

    3) Harnessing Power from the Sun

    Read and watch the material on EPIC.COM to find out more about solar energy.

    Comments

    Go to wakelet to say what you have learnt from the texts.

  • Guadeloupe: Pupils answers

    Can we collect sunlight?

    1. Can we collect sunlight?
    Thanks to the sun, we can produce renewable light energy. ... This consists of collecting the rays of the sun to heat at very high ...
    The light energy emitted by solar radiation can be collected in different ways to be transformed into electricity.
    In technical language, we talk about photovoltaic energy. But the sun's energy can also be converted into heat. We will then speak of thermal solar energy. In both cases, the production of light energy requires the installation of special installations to capture solar radiation, concentrate it and transform it into an electric current.
    Adam CM1

    . What are solar panels made of?

    Solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells made from a semiconductor photosensitive material: pure silicon (Si). Over 90% of the photovoltaic market uses silicon as a raw material. ... The earth's crust is in fact made up of around 28% silicon.
    In short, a photovoltaic solar panel is assembled with:
    • photovoltaic cells
    • a frame
    • glass
    • plastic
    • copper or silver connections
    Dyrwen

    How do solar panels work?

    Solar panels trap the sun's rays which are then transformed by metal absorbers into electricity. Solar energies are used to provide electricity in homes.
    Solar energy is captured through modules (large rectangles) covered with cells of silicon, a semiconductor material. The capture and transformation of solar energy takes place as follows:
    1. Photons (sunlight) hit cells.
    2. They transmit their energy to the electrons contained in the panels.
    3. Electrons move and produce a continuous electric current.
    4. The inverter then converts the direct current into alternating current and thus makes it usable on the electricity grid or in a building. Electricity can either be supplied to electrical appliances in the house, be sold to an electricity distributor, or be stored in a battery for later use in the house (for example at night, when not in use).

    Recycling solar panels

    The recycling of photovoltaic solar panels is an extension of ecological logic. The directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment in the EU obliges manufacturers of solar modules to participate in the recycling of their end-of-life products.
    The PV Cycle eco-organization in France collects and recycles used photovoltaic solar panels. The organization provides various free collection points. It is a system approved by the public authorities, financed by the photovoltaic players
    Alexandre CM2