Solar Energy Quiz

Solar Energy and its Applications

• Solar energy availability depends on several factors including time of day, season, cloud cover, and proximity to the Equator.
• Solar collectors, like a closed car on a sunny day, capture sunlight and convert it into heat energy.
• Space heating in homes can be achieved using passive solar design, which maximizes sunlight entry, or active solar systems, which use mechanical equipment.
• Active solar homes use special equipment like collectors to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, which is then distributed throughout the house.
• Solar fusion involves hydrogen isotopes combining to form helium, emitting radiant energy in the process.
• Solar water heating can reduce water heating bills by up to 50% and works similarly to space heating, with a solar collector heating water in a tank.
• Solar energy can be used to produce electricity through photovoltaic systems, converting sunlight into electricity using silicon-based solar cells.
• Photovoltaic systems are used to generate electricity in remote areas and can be expensive, costing 10 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.
• The Solar Star power plant in California, opened in late 2015, is one of the largest photovoltaic plants, generating 579 megawatts of electricity.
• Solar thermal systems, or concentrated solar power (CSP), focus sunlight onto a receiver that heats a liquid to produce electricity, similar to coal plants.
• Solar energy is unlimited, non-polluting, and cannot be controlled by any single entity, making it a promising energy source for the future.
• Advancements in solar technology could potentially eliminate energy shortages.