Mary NorrisStephenville High School

Stephenville ISD

Dr. Lin ShaoAssistant Professor

Nuclear EngineeringTexas A & M

Photovoltaic Cells

Dr. Shao’s Current Active Projects Nuclear Fuel Radiation Tolerant Materials for In-

core and Out-core Components Advanced Sensor and Devices

Photoelectric Effects of Self Assembled Nanoparticles in Si Nanoparticles in Si Effects of Self Assembled Metal Nanoparticles in Si

How does radiation affect

the components of a nuclear

reactor?

Practical use of photoelectric effect.

Solar Cells will be interesting to students.

Designing with solar panels will allow me to introduce engineering processes to students.

Photovoltaic Cells

Scientific Processes (1) (A) demonstrate safe practices during

laboratory and field investigations; (2) (E) design and implement investigative

procedures, including making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, identifying variables, selecting appropriate equipment and technology, and evaluating numerical answers for reasonableness;

(2) (H) make measurements with accuracy and precision and record data using scientific notation and International System (SI) units;

(2) (I) identify and quantify causes and effects of uncertainties in measured data;

(2) (J) organize and evaluate data and make inferences from data, including the use of tables, charts, and graphs;

(2) (K) communicate valid conclusions supported by the data through various methods such as lab reports, labeled drawings, graphic organizers, journals, summaries, oral reports, and technology-based reports; and

(2) (L) express and manipulate relationships among physical variables quantitatively, including the use of graphs, charts, and equations.

(3) (E) research and describe the connections between physics and future careers;

Physics TEKS

Science Concepts (4) (A) generate and interpret graphs and

charts describing different types of motion, including the use of real-time technology such as motion detectors or photogates;

(B) describe and analyze motion in one dimension using equations with the concepts of distance, displacement, speed, average velocity, instantaneous velocity, and acceleration;

(6) (D) demonstrate and apply the laws of conservation of energy and conservation of momentum in one dimension;

(8) (A) describe the photoelectric effect and the dual nature of light;

(8) (C) describe the significance of mass-energy equivalence and apply it in explanations of phenomena such as nuclear stability, fission, and fusion; and

(8) (D) give examples of applications of atomic and nuclear phenomena such as radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, and nuclear power and examples of applications of quantum phenomena such as digital cameras

Physics TEKS

Administer Pre-test during the first two weeks of school.

During “down” days, give students packets of K’NEX kits (or other model kits) to familiarize themselves with building cars.

Setting the stage

Video will be introduction to lesson

Photovoltaic Cells(commonly called

Solar Cells)

Lesson Plan

Introductory lecture. Give students specifications for

design and constraints. Assign groups. Student Research

Solar Car Project Lesson Plan

1st Day

First noted by Edmund Bequerel in 1839.

Albert Einstein described the photoelectric effect in 1905.

In 1954, Bell Laboratories built the first photovoltaic module.

During the 1960s the space industry used the technology aboard spacecraft.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/

Photoelectric Effect

• Possible car, most expensive, least labor intensive

• Less expensive, much more labor intensive.

K’NEX model, longest lasting, most design possibilities.

Lesson Plan2nd day

• Students will make sketch of their car ideas.• All group members must agree.• Receive materials for car.• Build Car

http://www.xof1.com/buildMiniSolarCar.php

http://solarwholesaledirect.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=83&category_id=26&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26&vmcchk=1&Itemid=26

Lesson Plan3rd Day

Implementation Phase:

• Students will attempt to measure speed of cars using LabQuest with a motion detector.

• Graph results and determine average speed.

• Determine what changes can be made with cars to increase average speed.• Possible changes may be either in the car design or angle of solar panel.

www.vernier.com

Evaluation Phase

Make changes to cars and measure speed.

Follow-up results.

Lesson Plan4th day

1. Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work on

a)relativity. b) the atomic bomb. c) the photoelectric effect. d) quantum physics.

2. Average velocity can be defined as:

a) the total displacement divided by the time interval during which the displacement occurred.

b) the rate of change of velocity c) the motion of an object falling

with a constant acceleration.

Pre/Post Test question

examples

George Wei

Tianyi Chen Justin General Josey Wallace

Lin Shao, Lab Director

Undergraduate

Leanne Kristek

Thank You!!!Dr. Shao and his staff have been incredibly welcoming and gracious. They have willingly taken time from their busy schedules to help and answer questions whenever I asked.

George Wei

Tianyi Chen Justin General Josey Wallace

Lin Shao, Lab Director

M.S. students

Undergraduate

Lloyd Price

TAMU E3 Program Texas Workforce Commission

National Science Foundation

Acknowledgements