Solar Energy Concepts

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to solar energy as discussed in the lecture.

Solar Fusion

The process by which the sun converts hydrogen into helium, releasing energy.

Gravity and Pressure

Intense forces in the sun's core that create conditions for nuclear fusion.

Proton Collisions

The interaction of positively charged hydrogen atoms that leads to fusion.

Helium Formation

The creation of helium atoms from fused protons in the sun's core.

Mass-Energy Conversion

The principle that mass can be converted into energy, exemplified by E=mc².

Energy Release

The energy emitted from the sun's core as light and heat.

Nuclear Fusion Steps

Sequential process of fusion from hydrogen to helium, involving several stages.

Deuterium Nucleus

An isotope of hydrogen formed when protons collide and fuse.

Helium-3 Nucleus

A helium isotope produced during the fusion process of deuterium and protons.

Helium-4 Nucleus

A stable helium nucleus ultimately formed from helium-3 nuclei fusing.

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Waves of energy that include visible light, traveling from the sun to Earth.

Photosphere

The visible surface of the sun from which light is emitted.

Speed of Light

Approximately 300,000 kilometers per second, the speed at which light travels.

Average Insolation

The average solar radiation received on Earth’s surface measured in watts per square meter.

Solar Constant

The power density of solar radiation at the distance of the Earth's orbit.

R-Value

A measure of a material's resistance to heat transfer; higher R-values indicate better insulation.

Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Methods of heat movement including conduction, convection, and radiation.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy through fluid movement, significant in heat transport.

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

A law describing the total energy radiated by a black body in terms of temperature.

Solar Space Heating

Heating a building using solar energy via active or passive systems.

Solar Collector

A device that captures and converts solar energy into usable heat.

Insulation

Material that reduces heat transfer, crucial for energy efficiency in buildings.

Solar Collector Design

Design features that maximize the efficiency of solar collectors.

Absorber Plate

The component of a solar collector that receives sunlight and converts it to heat.

Energy Loss Minimization

Strategies used in solar collectors to reduce heat loss through conduction and radiation.

Geographic Location

A factor affecting the availability of solar energy for collectors.

Collector Orientation

The positioning of solar collectors to maximize sunlight exposure.

Heat Storage Techniques

Methods for storing heat energy captured from solar radiation.

Passive Solar Heating

Building design elements that make use of solar energy without mechanical systems.

Thermal Mass

Materials that absorb and store heat for later use in passive heating.

Radiative Losses

Loss of heat energy through radiation from surfaces into the environment.

Daily Insolation Variation

Changes in solar radiation received based on time of year and collector angle.

Insolation Influencing Factors

Elements such as time of day, season, and weather that affect solar energy availability.

Solar Fusion

The process by which the sun converts hydrogen into helium, releasing energy.

Gravity and Pressure

Intense forces in the sun's core that create conditions for nuclear fusion.

Proton Collisions

The interaction of positively charged hydrogen atoms that leads to fusion.

Helium Formation

The creation of helium atoms from fused protons in the sun's core.

Mass-Energy Conversion

The principle that mass can be converted into energy, exemplified by E=mc².

Energy Release

The energy emitted from the sun's core as light and heat.

Nuclear Fusion Steps

Sequential process of fusion from hydrogen to helium, involving several stages.

Deuterium Nucleus

An isotope of hydrogen formed when protons collide and fuse.

Helium-3 Nucleus

A helium isotope produced during the fusion process of deuterium and protons.

Helium-4 Nucleus

A stable helium nucleus ultimately formed from helium-3 nuclei fusing.

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Waves of energy that include visible light, traveling from the sun to Earth.

Photosphere

The visible surface of the sun from which light is emitted.

Speed of Light

Approximately 300,000 kilometers per second, the speed at which light travels.

Average Insolation

The average solar radiation received on Earth’s surface measured in watts per square meter.

Solar Constant

The power density of solar radiation at the distance of the Earth's orbit.

R-Value

A measure of a material's resistance to heat transfer; higher R-values indicate better insulation.

Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Methods of heat movement including conduction, convection, and radiation.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy through fluid movement, significant in heat transport.

Stefan-Boltzmann Law

A law describing the total energy radiated by a black body in terms of temperature.

Solar Space Heating

Heating a building using solar energy via active or passive systems.

Solar Collector

A device that captures and converts solar energy into usable heat.

Insulation

Material that reduces heat transfer, crucial for energy efficiency in buildings.

Solar Collector Design

Design features that maximize the efficiency of solar collectors.

Absorber Plate

The component of a solar collector that receives sunlight and converts it to heat.

Energy Loss Minimization

Strategies used in solar collectors to reduce heat loss through conduction and radiation.

Geographic Location

A factor affecting the availability of solar energy for collectors.

Collector Orientation

The positioning of solar collectors to maximize sunlight exposure.

Heat Storage Techniques

Methods for storing heat energy captured from solar radiation.

Passive Solar Heating

Building design elements that make use of solar energy without mechanical systems.

Thermal Mass

Materials that absorb and store heat for later use in passive heating.

Radiative Losses

Loss of heat energy through radiation from surfaces into the environment.

Daily Insolation Variation

Changes in solar radiation received based on time of year and collector angle.

Insolation Influencing Factors

Elements such as time of day, season, and weather that affect solar energy availability.

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy through direct contact between particles.

Active Solar Heating System

A system that uses mechanical means (pumps, fans) to circulate a working fluid and transfer solar heat.

Working Fluid (Solar Collectors)

A liquid or gas (e.g., water, antifreeze, air) that absorbs heat from the collector and transports it.

Glazing (Solar Collector)

A transparent cover (e.g., glass, plastic) over the absorber plate that allows sunlight in and reduces heat loss.

Proton-Proton Chain

The primary sequence of nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun's core, converting hydrogen into helium.

Nuclear Fission

The process where a heavy atomic nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing energy.

Emissivity

A measure of a material's ability to emit thermal radiation, ranging from 0 to 1, where 1 is a perfect black body.

Thermal Storage Tank

A well-insulated tank designed to store heated water or other fluids for later use in a solar heating system.

Collector Tilt Angle

The angle at which a solar collector is tilted relative to the horizontal plane, optimized to maximize solar energy capture throughout the year.

Selective Surface (Absorber Plate)

A coating applied to an absorber plate that has high solar absorptance but low thermal emittance, improving collector efficiency.