Sunlight and solar cells: teaching digital design and communication through the development of a simple monitoring station
Article
Article Title | Sunlight and solar cells: teaching digital design and communication through the development of a simple monitoring station |
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ERA Journal ID | 22303 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Downs, Nathan (Author) and Parisi, Alfio (Author) |
Journal Title | Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers Association |
Journal Citation | 56 (4), pp. 52-58 |
Number of Pages | 7 |
Year | 2010 |
Publisher | Australian Science Teachers Association |
Place of Publication | Canberra, Australia |
ISSN | 1442-5556 |
1449-6313 | |
1839-2946 | |
Abstract | A method is described for building a cost effective digital circuit capable of monitoring the solar radiation incident upon a remote solar cell. The circuit is built in two sections, the first, digitises the analogue voltage produced by the solar cell at a remote location and transmits the received signal to the second receiver circuit which relays the information to a computer for storage. The activity introduces students to simple programming techniques required to communicate with a computer serial interface, and to analyse binary signals for accurate interpretation of the induced solar cell voltage resulting from exposure to sunlight. The activity can be extended by investigating the influence of solar cell tilt angle with respect to solar position, studying the effect of seasonal solar altitude differences and noting the effect of cloud on the radiation received. The completed project provides schools with their own solar radiation monitoring station which can be used for future studies of weather and climate. |
Keywords | solar; UV; skin cancer; climate |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy |
400801. Circuits and systems | |
370106. Atmospheric radiation | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | Department of Biological and Physical Sciences |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q02z7/sunlight-and-solar-cells-teaching-digital-design-and-communication-through-the-development-of-a-simple-monitoring-station
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