JJ57 Power from the Sun PDF

A solar panel Making solar power Power from the Sun Electricity from the sun can be by Maggie Twaddle...

A solar panel Making solar power Power from the Sun Electricity from the sun can be by Maggie Twaddle made by using solar panels. Solar panels ey substance) are flat pieces of silicon (a dark grey covered with glass. The panels have ve wires inside them that are connected to a power system. The panels are usually placed on the roofs of buildings. When the sun shines on the solar panels, the sunlight makes electricity inside the panels. This electricity then travels through wires to where it can be used to power things such as lights, ovens, fridges, and televisions. The sun gives us heat and light. Without the sun, The sun shines on the solar panels, and the sunlight makes electricity inside the panels. there would be no life on Earth. The energy from the sun is called “ solar energy”, and it can be used to make electricity. We call electricity that is made using the sun’s energy “ solar power.” Sol, the sun god The electricity The word “solar” comes from m travels through the name of the Roman sun wires inside the walls to where god, Sol. In very early times, it is needed. people from many cultures worshipped the sun. A statue of the Roman sun god, Sol 2 3  Using solar energy at school More and more schools in New Zealand are putting solar Our school has two panels on their roofs. Solar panels are ideal for schools solar arrays. The because schools are open (and using electricity) in the more panels we have, daytime when the sun is shining. the more electricity Bayswater School in Auckland we can make. got solar panels in June 2008. The panels are arranged in groups called arrays. One of our solar arrays Solar panels on the roof has 12 panels and the other of Bayswater School has 16 panels. Together, they make 6 kilowatts of electricity per hour. Kilowatts A kilowatt is a measure of power. One kilowatt equals one thousand watts. A small long-life light bulb uses between 14 and 16 watts an hour. 4 5  The students at Bayswate Bayswater School have been Saving energy ng a lot about solar en learning energy. The students have been working hard to make sure that electricity isn’t wasted. Every year, about ten students are Our solar panels chosen to be “ energy detectives”. work best on a sunny They check that the lights are switched day, but they still make off in the corridors and the hall electricity on a cloudy when nobody is using them. In day. They even work winter, they make sure that the when it’s raining. classroom doors are closed at morning tea and lunchtime so that the heat stays in the We’ve learnt that solar classrooms. In summer, they energy is a type of renewable open the doors and windows energy. That means it will so that the air in the classrooms never run out, no matter how is cooler. much people use. Wind power Every class also has an and hydro-electric power also energy monitor. They check use renewable energy. that the lights, the computers, and other things that use The panels only electricity are switched make some of the off when everyone leaves electricity the school the classroom. uses, so we work hard to save power. 6 7  Energy for the future The students of Bayswater School are proud of having solar panels at their school. They know the panels will continue to make electricity for many years to come. 8  r Power from the Sun Power from the Sun Juniro by Maggie Twaddle by Maggie Twaddle nal Jou The Ministry of Education and Lift Education would like to thank the students The sun gives us heat and light. Without the sun, 57 of Bayswater School, Auckland for sharing their experiences of using solar energy. there would be no life on Earth. The energy from the sun is called “ solar energy”, and it can be used to make electricity. We call electricity that is Text copyright © Crown 2018 made using the sun’s energy “ solar power.” The images on the following pages are copyright © Crown 2018: Sol, the sun god 1, 4, 5 (top and middle), and 6–8 by Stacey Simpkin The word “solar” comes from the name of the Roman sun m 3 (solar house diagram) by Elspeth Alix Batt god, Sol. In very early times, people from many cultures worshipped the sun. The images on the following pages are used under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY 2.0): A statue of the Roman sun god, Sol 3 (solar panel) by Oregon Department of Transportation from goo.gl/Re69eY 2 5 (lightbulb) by Alan Cleaver from goo.gl/mejMCV The images on the following pages are in the public domain: 2 (sun on crops) by www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos from goo.gl/Q3MUJ2 5-6 (half tone dots background) by Pixabay from goo.gl/kA3Aop JUNIOR JOURNAL 57 The image on page 2 (Sol the sun god) is copyright © Royal-Athena Galleries and is used with permission. For copyright information about how you can use this material, go to: Curriculum learning areas English www.tki.org.nz/Copyright-in-Schools/Terms-of-use Science Published 2018 by the Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. Reading year level Year 3 www.education.govt.nz Keywords arrays, Bayswater School, conservation, All rights reserved. electricity, energy, environment, power, Enquiries should be made to the publisher. renewable energy, Sol, solar arrays, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, sun, ISBN 978 1 77669 428 0 (online) sunlight, sustainability Publishing Services: Lift Education E Tū Editor: David Chadwick Designer: Jodi Wicksteed Literacy Consultant: Kay Hancock Consulting Editors: Hōne Apanui and Emeli Sione