APES Solar Energy

UNIT TEST: DEC. 8

Passive Solar

absorbing or blocking heat from the sun, without use of mechanical/electrical equip

Active Solar

use of mechanical/electrical equip to capture sun’s heat (solar water heaters or CST-concentrated solar thermal), or convert light rags directly into electricity (PV cells).

Photovoltaic Cells (PV)

Aka “solar panels”; contain semiconductor (usually silicon) that emits low voltage electrical current when exposed to sun.

Where do winds move?

Winds move north and south on the Earth's spherical surface

Polar air masses are:

Originating between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole or between the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole. They are characteristically cold.

Tropical air masses are:

Originating between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. They are warm air masses.

Continental polar (cP)

cold, dry air mass

Continental tropical (cT)

a warm, dry air mass

Maritime polar (mP)

a cold, moist air mass

Maritime tropical (mT)

a warm, moist air mass

Positive Feedback Mechanism

amplifies

Negative Feedback Mechanism

counteracts

Coriolis Effect

deflection of objects traveling through due to spin of the Earth

Anything in the Northern Hemisphere

deflects right

Anything in the Southern Hemisphere

deflects left

Hurricanes

spin counterclockwise. Formed in Northern Hemisphere

Cyclones/Typhoons

spin clockwise. Formed in Southern Hemisphere

Global Wind Patterns

air moves between the warm equator and the cold poles

Open System

heat transfer, mass transfer

Closed System

heat transfer, NO mass transfer

Higher latitudes recieve

less insulation (cooler, less precipitation)

Rain shadow

Eastern trade winds blow moist air from the Atlantic across South America

how many watts are in a kilowatt

1000W = 1kW

Nuclear is not

endlessly renewable. Relies on uranium.