Green+Energy

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Title
Green Energy

Problem Scenario
In this experiment, I want to find out if I use a Fresnel lense on a solar panel, then will you get more voltage output than just a regular solar panel in different types of light.

Broad Question
What is the best way to get more energy output?

Specific Question
What are the impacts of a solar panel with a Fresnel lense compared to no lense in different lighting?

Hypothesis
There will be more voltage out of the solar panel with the Fresnel lense in the sunlight vs. in the artificial light without the fresnel lense

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation
Fresnel Lense: A lense made out of plastic, and designed to focus the light in one place. Output: How much energy the solar panel gives off.

General Plan:
In this experiment, I am going to take 2 of the same solar panels, then put Fresnel lense on one of them and measure the voltage output on each of the solar panels in sunlight and in artificial light..

Potential Problems And Solutions
Not enough sunlight, will have to do artificial light first, then wait for a day that is sunny.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns
There won't be enough sunlight, or the wind will affect the experiment.

Experimental Design
(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

What is your experimental unit?
I am going to measure the voltage output of the solar panels.

Number Of Trials:
I will measure 2 different times during the experiment

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:
In this experiment I will measure just 1 solar panel.

Number of Observations:
Throughout the experiment, I will make 4 observations per experiment.

When will the data be collected?
The voltage measure will be collected before, during and after the experiment.

Where will data be collected?:
Where the solar panels are.

Resources and Budget Table

 * Item || Number needed || Where I will get this || Cost ||
 * Solar Panels || 2 || My dad || ? ||
 * Fresnel Lense || 1 || Walmart, other department stores or online || $1-$5 ||
 * Sunlight || 1 || Outside || $0 ||
 * Artificial light || 1 || In my house || $0 ||
 * Poster Board || 1 || Mr.Groves || $5 ||

Detailed Procedure
Step 1: Collect all your materials from the table above. (Excluding poster board) Step 2: Set up the solar panels on a board (material of your choice), in the sunlight and hold a Fresnel lense above one of the solar panels for 1 minute. Step 3: Measure the voltage output after 1 minute on each solar panel Step 4: Compare both solar panels, take note of comparison Step 5: Make a graph comparing the two voltage measures Step 6: Repeat steps 1-5 with artificial light. Step 7: Finish wiki, put on research, results, data, pictures, etc; and write a conclusion Step 8: Buy a poster board from Mr. Groves, and add the graphs, some pictures, and a model. Step 9: Finishing touches on poster board and other work Step 10: Science Fair Project is ready.

Time Line
February 9: Have all the materials, start the project February 10: Set up the solar panels outside in the sunlight. February 11: Measure the voltage output, on both, compare February 12: Set up the solar panels with artificial light February 13: Measure the voltage output, compare the graphs February 15: Make a poster board with the results, and pictures and information from the experiment. February 16-17: If not finished, finish poster board, make a conclusion February 20: Experiment done, project done, make adjustments if necessary. March 19: KMS Science Fair May 9: Mount Washington Valley Science Fair

Data Analysis
The numbers inside of my experiment went as planned, and there weren't any big problems, other than there wasn't a lot of sunshine for a while, so I had to put off the experiment a little bit. Overall, the experiment went very well.

All Raw Data
In artificial light after about 1 minute: 0.05-0.20 vdc In sunlight after about 1 minute: 0.50- 1.25

Results
My hypothesis was correct, and the voltage jumped when the Fresnel lense was applied. In artificial light: Without: 0.15-0.20 vdc. With: 0.90-1.20 vdc. Using a Fresnel lense will definitely benefit your energy uses.

Conclusion
My hypothesis was that the solar panel with the Fresnel lense would give out more voltage output than the others. Because, the light is focused. Well, this was proven. If you focus the light in one spot for at least 1 minute, then the voltage power of the solar panel will jump about 90%. Right in front of the light, the jump from no Fresnel lense to with one is 100%. So, my conclusion is that using a Fresnel lense within a solar panel is guaranteed to increase the voltage power by 90-100%.

Discussion
During the experiment, everything went as planned, and the solar panels cooperated. The voltage went up farther than I expected, and the experiment went well. The artificial light was a 50 watt halogen light bulb.

Benefit to Community and/or Science
This might benefit the community and or science because you won't have to use so much power with the things that you use most. If you use a Fresnel lense, which my experiment has proven; then there will be more power withing the panel so therefore there would be more power with what you are using the solar panel to power.

Background Research
The Fresnel lenses that I am using in my experiment are made out of plastic. Some are made of glass, or other materials. This doesn't effect the experiment because all of them are used for the same purpose, focusing light. The solar panels in my experiment are made of plastic, and are very sensitive to the light. At the beginning of the experiment, there was no voltage in the solar panels. This made it easier to do the experiment so that I could measure the voltage accurately. Solar panels are used for things like electricity inside of your house, or maybe even heat. They come in so many different sizes, from the size of a roof on a house, to small enough to fit in your hand. Some calculators are even powered by a solar panel. Solar panels are usually made of plastic or glass. And mostly are the color black, because that attracts the light, and the sun.