HEAT vs. LIGHT Energy.
Recently in class we covered the topic of heat energy. Energy is all around us everywhere we go. Matter is made up of molecules and atoms that are always moving because of energy. The motion of the molecules and atoms creates heat energy or thermal energy which is in all matter. There are measurable amounts of heat energy everywhere. (1) Where the classroom is leaves us to a great view of the rooftops of Worcesters homes & apartments. Each apartment covered by snow on all sides, but the sun still shining. The sun hits the right sides of all of the buildings. This would be a great place for solar panels to be put in. Solar energy can be converted into thermal energy. That thermal energy can be used to heat water in homes, workplaces, schools, etc. It can also be used to heat the spaces. Solar energy can also be converted into electricity. Photovoliac turns solar energy directly into electricity, while solar power plants indirectly convert electricity. (2) Some solar power plants produce enough electricity for 10,000 homes. In California’s Mojave desert, there is a tall tower with 1800 mirrors circling it. Heliostats, or the mirrors, turn to face the sun all day, collecting as much sun as possible. The sun reflects to the top of the tower, heating water, and producing steam which is then used to run a turbine to create electricity. (3) Heat and light energy work together & are very important to the world. The sun has always been very important since history can recall.
(1) http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/light_lessons/thermal/heat.html
(2) http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html
