Solar Energy 1

What is solar energy? When light from the Sun is put work it is called Solar Energy. 2

SUN FACTS Giant star Ball of burning gases 93,000,000 miles from Earth DOES NOT RISE or SET! DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND EARTH! Provides light and heat 3

Solar Energy in the Home In a home the greatest use of energy is for heating water and space. Light passes through the windows and strikes objects that absorb the light and heat up. The heat from those objects heat up the room. This is called solar space heating. 4

Investigation 1 Sun and Shadow Tracking As a student, you will observe changes in shadows over a day and relate the position of the Sun to the shadows. You will make a shadow tracker to systematically monitor the position of the sun. THE SUN DOES NOT MOVE! THE EARTH MOVES!!! 5

Shadow Thinking What is a shadow? What do you need in order to have a shadow? Do you have a shadow ALL the time? What would happen to your shadow if you stood in the same spot ALL day long? 6

Investigation: Shadow Play Ground Rules You will stay with your partner. You will not talk when the teacher is talking. You will join me when I call you to group. 7

Task 1 Find a spot away from others. Work with your partner to carefully trace each other’s shadow. Label your tracings with your name and the time of day. 8

What are shadows? Dark areas that result when light is blocked The length of the shadow depends on the Earth’s position in relation to the sun. 9

Shadow Word Bank Shadow- Orientation- 10

Shadow Word Bank  Shadow- is the dark area created by an object that stops light.  Orientation- the position or location of an object in relation to other locations or positions. 11

Content/Inquiry Chart o HOW DID YOU CREATE A SHADOW WHEN YOU WERE OUTSIDE? o HOW DID YOUR AFTERNOON SHADOW COMPARE TO YOUR MORNING SHADOW? o WHY DID MY SHADOW CHANGE SHAPE AND LOCATION?ORIENTATION? 12

Content/Inquiry Chart HOW DID YOU CREATE A SHADOW WHEN YOU WERE OUTSIDE? I used my body to block the light of the sun creating my shadow on the blacktop. HOW DID YOUR AFTERNOON SHADOW COMPARE TO YOUR MORNING SHADOW? The size, shape, and location/orientation of my shadow changed. WHY DID MY SHADOW CHANGE SHAPE AND LOCATION?ORIENTATION? The orientation and shape of my shadow changed because the position of the SUN changed because the Earth is rotating. 13

Investigation 1 Shadow Tracking As a student, you will observe changes in shadows over a day and relate the position of the Sun to the shadows. You will make a shadow tracker to systematically monitor the position of the sun. THE SUN DOES NOT MOVE! THE EARTH MOVES!!! 14

Investigation 1 : Shadow Tracking Ground Rules You will make sure to go outside at your assigned time. You will not talk when the teacher is talking. You will join me when I call you to group. 15

TASK TWO  Go outside during your assigned times.  Place the Shadow Tracker on level ground in the sun.  Mark sure the Shadow Tracker compass is aligned exactly on North.  Observe the shadow cast by the golf tee.  Use a pencil to mark the tip of the golf tee shadow on the Shadow Tracker. Write the time next to the dot.  Repeat the process every hour. 16

Patterns with Shadow Trackers Did every group get a similar pattern while using the Shadow Tracker? 17

Word Bank Compass- Sun- Direction- Cardinal directions- 18

Word Bank Compass- an instrument used to determine direction. The needle always points north. Sun- a giant star made of gases that the Earth and other planets revolve around. The sun gives us light, heat, and energy. Direction- used to navigate places or points on the Earth. Cardinal directions- north, south, east, and west 19

Content/Inquiry Chart How can you tell where the Sun is by looking at a shadow? Why did the shadows change as time passed? 20

Content/Inquiry Chart How can you tell where the Sun is by looking at a shadow? The sun is always the opposite direction of the shadow. Why did the shadows change as time passed? The Sun’s location changed because the Earth is rotating. The higher the Sun in the sky the shorter the shadow. The lower the Sun in the sky the longer the shadow. 21