Power from Sunlight - Powering space exploration with solar energy | Teach with space P09
In this set of activities, students will learn about two concepts that influence solar panel design for space missions: the inverse square law and the angle of incidence. Students will perform two simple investigations using a photovoltaic cell (solar cell) and a light source. First, they will measure how the power produced by the solar cells varies with distance from the light source and attempt to retrieve the inverse square law for light intensity experimentally. Students will then conduct a second experiment to investigate the dependence of the power output for the solar cell with the angle of incidence. Last, they will apply these concepts to real ESA space missions.
- Understanding and calculating light intensity.
- Understanding the angle of incidence.
- Learning about solar cells.
- Perform hands-on experiments to investigate the inverse square law of light and the impact of the angle of incidence of light.
- Analysing and plotting data.
- Constructing simple electric circuits using solar cells.
- Learning about electric potential difference, electric current, power and light intensity.
- Investigating solar power requirements on space missions.
This classroom resource is part of a set of resources developed by ESA’s Education Office in collaboration with ESEROs to support the Moon Camp project.
English, Dutch, French, German student’s worksheets and teacher’s guide, Polish, Spanish
- Physics, Science
- Age 12-15, Age 12-19, Age 15-19
- Up to 2 hours
- Planetary Exploration, Space Technology
