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PPhysicsRenewable energyS3 · S4 · S6Mathematics
Renewable energy lab: sun and wind for a school
A school on a hill wants electricity for evening study. Is a solar panel enough in the rainy season? Would a small wind turbine help? Measure, calculate and compare.
LevelS3, S4 and S6
TimeAbout 45 min
You useSunlight and wind data, power and energy graphs
PriceFree: no account
🎯 Aim
To compare the energy produced by a solar panel and a wind turbine under different weather conditions, and to decide how many panels a classroom needs.
You will learn to
- Calculate power from sunlight, panel area and efficiency.
- Find energy as the area under a power–time graph.
- Explain why wind power depends on v³.
- Compare energy sources and choose a reliable (hybrid) system.
🧭 What to do
- Choose the weather and move the time of day: watch the Sun, the panel and the turbine.
- Change the panel area and efficiency: how does the power change?
- Read “Solar energy today” for the three kinds of day.
- Change the blade length of the turbine and compare the bar chart.
- Answer the investigation questions using the standard panel (1.6 m², 20 %).
- Write your conclusion and download your lab report.
📋 The data
Hourly sunlight (W/m²) and wind speed (m/s) for three typical days at a hilltop site near the equator. Realistic model data for learning.
🧠 Investigate: answer from the data
Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.
➕ Get more from this experiment
📝 Free
Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.
📦 Premium Lab Pack
1 000 RWF
- Printable worksheet: design solar lighting for your own home
- Data sets for 12 months of sunlight
- Teacher guide and answer key
- Project rubric for a class presentation
👩🏫 For teachers
Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.
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