Materials List:
A New Angle on Photovoltaic Solar Panel Efficiency
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_pveff_lesson01_activity1
Each group needs:
- mini PV panel ($10-30; available online; do a product search for "small solar panel" or see the Solar Panel Source Information attachment in the Photovoltaic Efficiency unit)
- multimeter ($10; available online; see the Solar Multimeter Source Information attachment in the Photovoltaic Efficiency unit)
- 2 wires with alligator clamps
- sunlight or 100-watt incandescent lamp ($8 from hardware store)
- 2 pieces of cardboard, each about the same size as the panel
- protractor (or use attached Protractor Printout; print and cut out; two per sheet)
- ruler or string (to help make accurate protractor measurements)
- Student Investigation Guide, one per team
- Investigation Worksheet, one per student
Note: The non-expendable items (mini PV panels, multimeters, wires with alligator clamps, lamp and light bulb) are reusable for the entire four-lesson unit, as well as other projects.
For the entire class to share:
- duct tape