- View more resources from this publisher
European Space Agency (ESA)
Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Power from sunlight - Powering space exploration with solar energy
In this set of activities from the European Space Agency, students learn about two concepts that influence solar panel design for space missions: the inverse square law and the angle of incidence. There are instructions on two simple investigations using a photovoltaic cell (solar cell) and a light source. The first asks students to measure how the power produced by the solar cells varies with distance from the light source and attempt to retrieve the inverse square law for light intensity experimentally. Students then conduct a second experiment to investigate the dependence of the power output for the solar cell with the angle of incidence. In concluding the activity, students apply these concepts to real ESA space missions.
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Downloads
Show downloads
Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.
