1. Morgan Dutrow 11 th Grade Bellwood-Antis How does ice affect solar cell output?

2. Problem How well do solar panels work when ice accumulates on them? I chose this experiment because of… A recent ice storm The green movement

3. Research The amount of light absorbed by panel could reduce several ways…

4. Gamma Rays Gamma rays and visible light are both on the electromagnetic scale.

5. Hypothesis As the ice gets thicker the amount of light absorbed by the solar panel and turned to energy will decrease exponentially.

6. Experimental Design Variable Thickness of ice Experimental Group 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 2 cm, 2.5 cm, 3 cm, and 3.5 cm Control 0 cm (no ice)

7. Materials Solar panel Ringstand Multimeter Tupperware Water Freezer Ruler Light bulb Socket

8. Procedure-making the ice thickness I had to make sure the ice was uniform. Tried several methods: Stiff plastic with lining Flexible Tupperware with lining Flexible Tupperware without lining

9. Procedure-testing the panels 1.Set up equipment 2.Place ice on panel 3.Record Volts and Amps 4.Repeat steps 1-3 for all other trials of different thicknesses 5.Find Power = V * i Note: This is not where my experiment occurred.

10. Control Variables Light Distance Same bulb Room Temperature Location External light Solar panel Same one used for all tests Materials Same used for all tests

11. Raw Data

12. Power

13. Averages of Power

14. Initial Analysis Note: Some error bars are too small to be seen.

15. In-depth Analysis

16. Conclusion Since the R value is the closest to 1 for the exponential line of best fit, I accept my hypothesis that the amount of light absorbed will decrease exponentially as the thickness of the ice increases.

17. Improvements and Expansion Should’ve used a larger graduated cylinder. I should have used thicker ice. I could use snow since my area gets a lot of snow.

18. Bibliography http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/ solar-cell.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/ solar-cell.htm http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/gamma.html http://library.thinkquest.org/27356/p_index.htm http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/light/U12L2c.cf m http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/light/U12L2c.cf m http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageId=57