Applied Sciences

Solar-dark characteristic curve

Principle

The current dependence on voltage of a darkened solar cell is to be measured.

Task

How does a solar cell behave when it is dark?

The characteristic current-voltage curves of solar cells

Principle

The maximum utilisable power of a solar cell is dependent on the intensity of the incident light. Characteristic current-voltage curves are prepared under various illuminations.

Task

How does a load change the ...

Storage of the electric energy from a solar cell in a capacior

Principle

A capacitor is a passive electric component with the ability to store electrical charge and so the corresponding energy.

Task

How can solar energy be stored without using a rechargeable battery?

Try to sto ...

Thermal conduction

Principle

Energy can be transmitted through heat convection, heat radiation or heat conduction. The greater the thermal conductivity of a wall, the higher the temperature of its exterior. This property is used to compare the temperatures and thus the thermal c ...

Influence of surface on the absorption of solar energy

Principle

In this experiment a white tent in the desert will be simulated by means of a white absorber plate which is exposed under a halogen lamp for 5 minutes. The temperature difference before and after the irradiation is compared to that of a black absorber ...

Influence of insulation on the absorption of solar energy

Principle

The temperature increase is much higher in the case of the insulated plate as opposed to the uncovered plate. When the plate is not insulated, it can lose heat energy to air flowing by and through the radiation of heat.

Task ...

Using the greenhouse effect with a solar collector

Principle

The greenhouse effect in the solar collector works not only for the better heat insulation of the solar collector, but also for its protection from the external influences of the weather. The heating is not significantly influenced by the plexiglass d ...

Heating water in a solar collector

Principle

A small beaker with water is placed in a model solar collector. Observe how well the water in the beaker can be heated up.

Task

How can one heat up water with a solar collector?

Thermal insulation of houses and thermal imaging

Principle

In this experiment a heated up room or house are to be simulated. The solar collector from the Pupil Kit is used for this purpose. Three walls are made up of Styropor, the front plastic plate is the window. The black beaker with hot water serves as " ...

Thermal radiation and greenhouse effect

Principle

This experiment explains the principle of the greenhouse effect. At a surface temperature of about 5600°C, the sun mainly irradiates heat radiation in an area of 500 nm in the direction of the Earth direction. The terrestrial atmosphere allows the rad ...

Electrical energy from wind energy

Principle

Experiment using a model to generate electrical energy with the help of a windmill.

A lamp is connected to the wind generator to act as a load and the brightness of the lamp is observed for various different wind speeds.

Influence of wind speed

Principle

In this experiment a wind wheel is set up at various distances from the blower.  The wind that reaches the wind wheel has different speeds.

Task

What influence does the wind speed have on the voltage produced ...

Influence of wind direction

Principle

The blower (fan) produces wind of constant strength and the wind wheel is located in a fixed distance from the blower. The wind direction is changed by turning the wind wheel. Examine how the voltage generated by the wind wheel behaves in response to ...

Wind energy under load

Principle

The wind wheel is operated by means of a blower and a connected "consumer" (for example a light bulb or a LED) is light up. Observe the wind wheel with and without consumer.

Task

Observe the wind wheel when it opera ...

Influence of number of rotor blades

Principle

From their environment, students usually know of wind turbines that have 3 blades. There are also models with only 2 blades or with completely different structures. In contrast, water wheels have more blades ("Blätter"), and they are suitable for driv ...