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What is Solar Power?
Start your explanation with a simple definition of solar energy, which is energy from the sun. This energy comes in the form of light or heat. Ask your child if he can think of ways he uses solar energy. The sun heats your child̵7;s body when he̵7;s outside. Its light helps him see. The plants that he eats need it to grow. When people harness solar power, they basically collect sunlight and turn it into electricity.
How do Solar Panels Work?
One way people turn sunlight into energy is through solar panels, which are collections of solar cells comprised mostly of silicon, the same element that makes up sand. Each cell, also called a photovoltaic cell, has the ability to take light from the sun and transform it into electricity. When sunlight hits a solar cell, its photons, or light particles, move electrons inside the silicon; once the electrons reach metal conductor strips, they generate electricity. This explanation might be too much for younger children, so consider drawing a diagram of sunlight moving through a square, and when it comes out the other side, it is no longer sunlight but rather electricity. You might also get a kick out of your kid trying to say ̶0;photovoltaic.̶1;
How do we Use Solar Energy?
Small groups of solar cells can power devices like a solar calculator, while larger groups of these cells can power a car, a home and even large satellites that orbit the Earth. People can even attach batteries to solar panels in order to store solar power, so they can use solar power at night when the sun isn̵7;t shining. Ask your child if he has ever seen solar panels on top of a sign on the road. Those panels provide electricity for the signs to stay lit. If you find a home that has solar panels, point them out to show your child what they look like. Explain that people typically put them on roofs to get the most amount of sunlight.
Why Use Solar Energy?
Explain to your child that solar power is renewable, which means the sun will continue to make energy for billions of years. Solar power also does not harm the environment, like pollution from burning coal or oil does. While it is expensive to start using solar power, solar panels do tend to last over 20 years, and they cut down on the need to burn fossil fuels to make electricity. Humans have used solar energy to cook food or create heat for hundreds of years, but now solar power is becoming more efficient and a bigger competitor to coal and oil.