Energy & Place
Essential Questions:
- How does energy production and consumption impact place?
- How does your sense of place, environmental ethic, and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption?
Scientific Paper:
Infographic:
Reflection
Through my scientific investigation, I have learned about the difficulties in creating a battery using many of the same substances as the original battery. The original battery used cloth or cardboard soaked in either brine or vinegar. During our experiment we tried to recreate the creation of the battery, however we decided to test different electrolytes, to see which everyday household substances were best for a homemade battery. Through this experiment I have learned that batteries have evolved in a very successful way, but they still have a long ways to evolve so that the lives will last longer and they can hold more energy. Batteries can be used for both solar panels and wind turbines but they currently do not have the capacity to hold large amounts of energy for long periods of time. However, with the evolution of the battery, both solar panels and wind mills will be a more viable source of energy.
Though my infographic, I learned differences and similarities between solar panels and wind turbines. I learned the cost to build each one; the amount of space the objects takes up; that they can both be recycled; the life expectancy of each object; and any necessary maintenance. This gave me a more realistic view of both solar panels and wind turbines. I always thought they would last a good 40-50 years, as it turns out they both only have a life expectancy of about 25 years. This is a major drawback for the use of solar panels and/or windmills for me at least because they are quite expensive to build. It also made me realize that there is quite a lot of maintenance that goes along with both; windmills should be inspected at least twice a year and solar panels need to be cleaned often so they can maintain their efficiency. These were things that never occurred to me, I now realize that for renewable sources such as wind and solar to be a realistic and viable energy source, there needs to be a lot of improvement and innovation.
Though my infographic, I learned differences and similarities between solar panels and wind turbines. I learned the cost to build each one; the amount of space the objects takes up; that they can both be recycled; the life expectancy of each object; and any necessary maintenance. This gave me a more realistic view of both solar panels and wind turbines. I always thought they would last a good 40-50 years, as it turns out they both only have a life expectancy of about 25 years. This is a major drawback for the use of solar panels and/or windmills for me at least because they are quite expensive to build. It also made me realize that there is quite a lot of maintenance that goes along with both; windmills should be inspected at least twice a year and solar panels need to be cleaned often so they can maintain their efficiency. These were things that never occurred to me, I now realize that for renewable sources such as wind and solar to be a realistic and viable energy source, there needs to be a lot of improvement and innovation.