Where is the Block "O" solar panel and who is it funded by? correct answers On the roof of the
RPAC - AEP
How much of the energy in the US comes from renewable sources like hydroelectric, wood,
biofuels, wind, geothermal, and solar? correct answers 10-11%
How much of the US total energy portfolio is represented by solar power? correct answers less
than 1%
How much of the renewable energy resources used by the US does Solar energy account for?
correct answers 6%
On human timescales, the sun provides an inexhaustible source of energy for earth, so solar
energy is considered what type of resource? correct answers renewable
What is the biggest challenge in utilizing solar energy? correct answers Transporting the
electricity it creates to where it is needed/used
What are the 2 main types of harnessing solar energy? correct answers 1. Active - convert heat
energy from the sun to electricity (ex: solar panels)
2. Passive - directly using the sun's heat energy (ex: to heat a home)
Passive Solar Energy System correct answers South facing windows act as solar collectors.
Movable insulation is used to cover the windows at night to reduce heat loss. A massive concrete
floor acts as a storage device and prevents overheating. The overhang blocks the summer sun.
Ex: Cliff Palace Dwelling in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Active Solar Energy System: House Heating correct answers Ex: The Thomason House in
Washington D.C. - water is pumped up to the roof, where it runs down trickle-type solar
collectors (in this case, corrugated aluminum painted black and covered with glass). The hot
water flows into a large storage tank that is surrounded by rocks. Air is blown through the box of
rocks, where it picks up heat energy and moves it throughout the house.
Photocell/Photovoltaic Cell/Solar Cell correct answers a layered chemical cell that produces
electricity from sunlight; most are made by joining two very thin layers of crystalline silicon,
each of which has been treated in a special way. Normally, there are no free electrons in silicon,
and it thus is a reasonably good insulator. By a special process called DOPING, impurities are
aded to the silicon to change its properties and make it a better "semi" conductor of electricity.
Photocells are doped with phosphorus or boron.
Photovoltaic cells are getting cheaper to make but you need a huge number to make up a decent
size array. They are only _______ efficient. correct answers 5-15% efficient; you can only use
them when there is sunshine and night time stored energy is also not efficient (batteries, fuel
cells, etc.)