A quarter of the energy from the sun that reaches the lower atmosphere is transformed into wind, which we saw transformed into electricity with the turbine and generator. Other forms of solar power include heat engines, solar-thermal electrical devices, and photo voltaic devices such as the solar cell demonstrated above. Many of these systems focus the sun's energy onto a point and this energy is collected and stored.
Most alternative energy sources produce electrical energy. This is great for most stationary applications, but is not easy to store in large quantities. For energy in transportation a light-weight energy source is needed. Most fuels are transportable and have high capacity. An alternative fuel source for the future is Hydrogen fuel. This can be burned as a fuel or used in a cell to produce electricity. It has a high potential for storing energy and its only byproduct is water.
Make sure to ask the students what they think this technology can be used for!
Troubleshooting:
-do this in a darkened room or against a solid, dark background
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