11-12.RST.6

Designing a Solar Charger

Grades:

10-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson, students will further explore the potential and challenges related to using photovoltaics to supplement the power needed to charge batteries in BEVs. Students will be provided with a 12 V lead-acid battery and several 3 V, 1.5 A solar...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Circuitry,

Electrical Energy,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Transportation

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will explore the role of series and parallel wiring as they pertain to voltage and amperage. 2. Students will explore the processes involved with charging batteries and relate these processes to voltage and amperage. 3. Students will test photovoltaic modules to identify voltage and amperage outputs. 4. Students will design a system of wiring 3 V, 1.5 A modules together as a means to charge a 12 V lead-acid battery 5. Students will predict and test the effectiveness of their designed solar charger.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Clayton Hudiburg

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS3-2,