Creating a Light-Tracking Servo

Basic Stamp Microprocessor
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
electronics
computer science
applied physics
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will synthesize the previous lesson for light metering and servo control to design a servo controlled by two photoresistors that will track a light source.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will learn how to program the Basic Stamp to use information from two photoresistors to point a servo at a light source. This will be the first degree of freedom for the flower head. View full description >>

Controlling a Servo

Basic Stamp Microprocessor
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
electronics
computer science
applied physics
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to apply the pulse width modulation to a servo from a Basic Stamp. Students will synthesize two circuit designs using one to control the other through the Basic Stamp.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

In this lesson students will learn how to control a servo using the Basic Stamp. Then students will combine the photoresistor from the previous lesson with the servo to create a light controlled servo. View full description >>

Measuring Voltage Using a Microcontroller

Basic Stamp Microprocessor
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply Ohm’s Law. Students will use a multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. Students will use a breadboard to set up a series circuit. Students will read circuit diagrams. Students will calculate times for an RC circuit to change state. Students will prove that resistors in series have an equivalent resistance equal to their individual sums. Students will program the Basic Stamp to measure voltage levels in a voltage divider and RC circuit.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

In this lesson students will be introduced to series circuits, resistors, a photoresistor and a microcontroller. There’s a lot here, but it boils down to making a voltage divider circuit and measuring the voltage at different points. A second circuit includes an RC component. Teachers can edit this down to just a photoresistor if time and/or... View full description >>

Simple Solar Tracker

Solar Tracker
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
4-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
physics
electronics
solar power
Engineering
engineering design process
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students observe and replicate a simple solar tracker. Students will learn basic electric circuits and terminology. Students will reflect on possible improvements for solar tracker. Students will reflect on how the engineering design process is used daily.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will be shown a working example of a solar tracker and asked to replicate the design based on their observations. The design incorporates four solar cells arranged in two arrays with each array reverse biased such that they generate a voltage that opposes the other. Whichever array receives the most light will generate more voltage... View full description >>

Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use Unit

Constructing Solar Panels
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
applied physics
physics
principles of technology
Engineering
applied math
research to build and present knowledge
statistics and probability
modeling
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

Modeling and data analysis

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

For this extended task, students will track the sun's altitude and Azimuth to determine the best position for their hand-built solar panel, learn solar cell operation basics, solar panel construction, series and parallel circuitry and basic array sizing. View full description >>

Solar Site Assessment

Solar Rooftop
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
solar energy
renewable energy
design
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 50 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to use a Solar Pathfinder to determine the amount of solar resource lost to shading from nearby trees, buildings, etc. Students will be able to calculate the number of kWh of electricity that can be produced in a specific location and in a specific sized area. Students will be able to calculate the amount of carbon emissions that can be offset due to installing photovoltaic panels of various sizes. Students will be able to calculate the size array needed to offset all electricity use for the high school.

Students will do an actual site assessment to determine the available solar resource for a chosen location. 

View full description >>

Solar Pathfinder Tutorial

Solar Rooftop
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
solar energy
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to properly assemble and orient their solar pathfinder. Students will be able to properly record the information provided by a solar pathfinder. Students will be able to accurately analyze the information provided by the solar pathfinder to calculate the solar potential (kWh/m2/day) taking into account variables such as shading, climate and weather.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This lesson is designed to allow the students to practice assembling and using their Solar Pathfinders, along with analyzing the data. The students will take a single measurement and digital photograph at a location near the classroom designated by the teacher. 

... View full description >>

Macro-Scale Solar

Solar Rooftop
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to describe the basic structure of a photovoltaic solar module implementing the ideas of series and parallel wiring. Students will be able to describe the basic structure of a photovoltaic solar array implementing the ideas of series and parallel wiring. Students will be able to describe the function and necessity of an inverter when using photovoltaic arrays.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This lesson begins with basic chemistry with regards to atomic structure. The lesson then moves to understanding the special properties of silicon as a photoelectric semi- conductor. Building on this, the basic structure of photovoltaic solar cells is described in detail. View full description >>

Introduction to the Photovoltaic Effect

Solar Rooftop
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Chemistry
electricity
physics
photovoltaics
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to describe the basic structure of a photovoltaic solar cell. Students will be able to outline or summarize how solar cells produce electricity. Students will be able to explain why silicon, boron and phosphorous are most often used to construct solar cells.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This lesson begins with basic chemistry with regards to atomic structure. The lesson then moves to understanding the special properties of silicon as a photoelectric semi- conductor. Building on this, the basic structure of photovoltaic solar cells is described in detail. View full description >>

Using a Multimeter to Analyze a Solar Circuit: Measuring Current and Voltage—Calculating Power and Resistance

Solar Circuit
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Energy
electricity
Power
solar energy
circuit analysis
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand that voltage is a measure of a difference in electric potential energy and that current is the rate at which charge flows through a circuit.Students will understand how to measure and quantify electricity. Students will become familiar with the relationships between the fundamental electrical quantities.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will set up a simple circuit using a multimeter and a load resistor to measure the voltage and current in the circuit. Students will learn to use a multimeter, learn how to calculate power and be introduced to Ohm’s Law. This activity provides a good introduction to understanding the relationship between fundamental electricity... View full description >>