Introduction

Fossil fuels and nuclear energy sources both are in limited supply on earth. They are nonrenewable sources of energy that cannot be replaced once they have been used. Both of these forms of nonrenewable energy have negative impacts on the environment and will one day run out. If consumption remains at today's levels, it is projected that oil deposits will run out by 2052 with enough reserves to last until about 2060. With this depletion of oil and natural gas, it is predicted that coal deposits will run out around 2088.

Because of limited supplies and negative effects of nonrenewable sources of energy, it is important that alternate, renewable forms of energy be developed to decrease our dependency on these types of fuels. In this lesson, you will learn how solar energy can help supplement something that completes or makes an addition nonrenewable forms of energy.

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Solar panels on a house roof.

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Identify solar energy as a renewable source of energy.
  • Explain how solar energy is used as an alternative to fossil fuels.
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy over fossil fuels.
  • Differentiate between active and passive solar energy.

Enduring Understanding:

  • As a clean, unlimited, renewable resource, solar energy still needs further technology in order to be more efficient and consistent with its production of usable energy.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Environmental Science 1

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W8, W9, and W10

 

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