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Solar Power

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Solar Power is an energy resource that uses the energy transferred to the Earth from The Sun by light and thermal radiation.

About Solar

Solar Power is a renewable energy resource.
Solar Power has uses energy in the thermal energy store of The Sun which has been transferred to the Earth by Radiation.

Power

Solar Power can be used to provide hot water or generate electricity.

SolarWaterHeater.png
SolarCells.png
Water is passed through black tubes which absorb thermal radiation from The Sun to heat the water. Light is absorbed providing energy to produce an electrical current.

Advantages of Solar Cells

  • Can provide power in places not connected to the national grid.
  • Do not produce pollution.
  • The running cost is almost nothing.
  • No fuel cost.

Disadvantages of Solar Cells

  • Expensive to build.
  • Large areas must be covered in cells in order to produce enough electrical power.
  • Only work when it’s sunny (not during the night time and slightly less in cloudy weather).
  • Cannot increase power output when more is needed.

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Solar is an energy resource that uses the energy transferred to the Earth from The Sun by light and thermal radiation.

About Solar

Solar Power is a renewable energy resource.
Solar Power has uses energy in the thermal energy store of The Sun which has been transferred to the Earth by Radiation.

Power

Solar Power can be used to provide hot water or generate electricity.

SolarWaterHeater.png
SolarCells.png
Water is passed through black tubes which absorb thermal radiation from The Sun to heat the water. Light is absorbed providing energy to produce an electrical current.

Advantages of Solar Cells

  • Can provide power in places not connected to the national grid.
  • Do not produce pollution.
  • The running cost is almost nothing.
  • No fuel cost.

Disadvantages of Solar Cells

  • Expensive to build.
  • Large areas must be covered in cells in order to produce enough electrical power.
  • Only work when it’s sunny (not during the night time and slightly less in cloudy weather).
  • Cannot increase power output when more is needed.

References

AQA

Solar power, page 176, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Solar power, page 25, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
Solar power, page 280, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Solar power, pages 19, 22, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Solar power, pages 33,40, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Solar power, pages 46-48, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
Solar power, pages 48-50, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Solar power, page 161, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Solar power, page 29, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Solar power, page 212, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Solar power, page 93, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Solar power, pages 2-3, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR
Solar power, pages 2-3, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR

Beyond the Curriculum