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This activity can be done as a project in groups.
Differentiated Instruction Strategy: Use KWL Charting so that students can select their own role in the project.
STSE: Alternative Energy Sources
Testable Question: Can the heat energy from the sun be used to warm up a swimming pool?
Materials and Equipment: Web based Resources (Google Earth, MapQuest)
Introduction: More and more people are using "green" sources of energy and natural sources (wind, solar, water, geothermal) to replace natural gas or electricity to heat their homes and living spaces.
Problem: You have a swimming pool (6 m wide x 9 m long x 1.5 m deep (average depth)). You are trying to reduce operating costs and are looking for alternative ways of heating your pool. You search the Internet and find a company that supplies and installs a system that uses a system of "solar thermal" panels installed on the roof. In this system the cool water from the pool is pumped through the panels on the roof where the sun energy warms it up.
Suggested Procedure: Use the Internet to find out what systems are available in Ontario.
Select a Company and obtain information about their system. Find out how their system works and how much would it cost to install and operate their system based on the size of your house's roof. For practical purposes use a simplified roof structure as shown in the picture below and assume the dimensions of the roof to be 4 m x 12 m.
Courtesy: Solar Ontario - http://www.solarontario.com
Use Google Earth to decide if the exposure to the sun of your home (roof) is most favourable. Keep in mind that the best exposures are East or West.
Presentation: You can present the findings of your project as a Smart Board Activity, a Power Point, using Prezi.com, as a digital storytelling presentation, or as a pod-cast.
Your presentation must include all your data collected over the Internet and feature one system that you have researched.
Include drawings, graphs, pictures and organize all your data in tables.
Your presentation Will conclude with the answers to the questions/tasks given below:
Questions/Tasks:
1. Show if it is feasible for you to switch from Natural Gas Heating to Solar Heating (ROI - return on Investment)?
2. Show if your if your house's exposure to the sun is optimal?
3. Show all the costs involved in installing a solar system and operating a solar heated pool for one year.
4. If you installed a solar system how much will it save over natural gas in three years?
5. In your presentation include diagrams to show how a solar heated pool system works.