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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 3 - 5

Solar Power

In this activity, students learn how engineers use solar energy to heat buildings by investigating the thermal storage properties of some common materials: sand, salt, water and shredded paper. Students then evaluate the usefulness of each material as a thermal storage material to be used as the thermal mass in a passive solar building.

A photograph showing roof-top solar panels used heat, cool, or add natural light to a building. Solar energy can also heat a building's water and produce some or all of its electricity.Figure 1. Roof-top solar panels.

Engineers design technologies that can turn sunlight into electricity to power households and businesses. For example, photovoltaic arrays and concentrating mirrors harness the Sun's energy and generate heat or electricity for general use. Engineers continually develop better ways to efficiently capture the Sun's plentiful energy capabilities.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Understand and explain how passive solar heating works.
  • Describe the difference between passive and active solar heating.
  • Describe materials that are appropriate for use as thermal mass and insulation in passive solar heating.
  • Explain how engineers design passive and active solar heating systems for buildings.

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