Solar energy

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/solar-energy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Solar energy?The photovoltaic effect, observed in 1839
2. What is the source of solar radiation?Nuclear fusion reactions in the sun's core
3. What is the solar constant value?Approximately 1,361 watts per square meter at Earth's atmosphere
4. What is solar energy and where does it come from?Solar energy comes from the sun's core where hydrogen turns into helium, releasing light and heat that reach Earth.
5. How do solar panels turn sunlight into electricity?Solar panels use silicon cells that let sunlight free electrons, creating a current that is turned into usable power by an inverter.

Electromagnetic Radiation: Energy that travels in waves, including visible light, heat, and UV rays.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cell: A semiconductor device that converts light energy directly into electrical energy.
Inverter: An electronic device that converts direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity.