Solar Energy Education
Almost all energy on earth comes from the sun. Wind, Hydro-power, Fossil Fuels, Solar and Biomass all originate from the energy of the sun.
Only nuclear energy, energy from the heat of the earth and energy from the tides in the ocean are not solar in origin.
The sun is made up of 70% hydrogen, 28% helium, and 2% other small atoms. The estimated temperature of the sun is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit.
The sun produces heat and light (photons) from thermonuclear fusion (H—>He). The loss of mass in this reaction is turned into energy.
The sun radiates the heat equivalent of 400 billion trillion tons of burning coal every hour.
The energy from the sun takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach the earth. It travels over 93 million miles.
The earth receives 1/2 billionth of the sun’s total radiated energy. That is about 1000 Watts/sq meter.
Energy from the sun can be used in three ways: to produce heat, to produce chemicals, and to produce electricity.
