Solar+Farm

Solar Farm tended by a robot:
Three mini solar panels will be kept facing the Sun as the Earth rotates to increase Watts produced.

Students will read about how the rotation of the Earth causes the apparent motion of the Sun across the sky during the day. Student will read about how sunlight strikes the Earth at different latitudes. Students will read about how solar panels perform when receiving light at different angles. Student will write about how a solar panel needs to be moved as the Earth rotates. Students will calculate how to position solar panel so it is parallel to the Earth's axis. Students will calculate how many degrees the sun moves across the sky each minute and hour. Students experimentally test their calculations. Students will assemble three frames to position mini 12 volt solar panels at different angles to the sun actuated by a worm gear. Students will use test a solar panel's output at different angles to the sun using a 12 volt motor and bicycle speedometer/odometer. Students will calculate the solar panels efficiency at different angles to the sun. Students will design a robot that can navigate between the three panels to spin the worm gear. Students will compete to have their solar farms produce the maximum amount of Watts. Student's will write up their solution to building a solar farm tended by a robot. Using a project book: Students will learn about electronics and microprocessors. Students will do voltage, resistance, and Wattage calculations and graphs. The teacher and students will remotely sense solar output and the weather using sensors and an Arduino microprocessor. The teacher and students will remotely monitor the Watts generated by the solar farms. Students will use rovers to remotely measure solar energy reaching the ground in different locations on campus at different times. Students will remotely sense the weather in different locations on campus at different times. Students will compete to have their rover find a specific micro climate on campus.