When air near the
earth is heated by the sun, it rises high into the sky and cold air
from elsewhere pours in to replace it. This pouring air is wind, and
it is powerful enough to drive a sailing ship across the sea or turn
the mighty blades of a generator in a windfarm. |
Every day, the sun
draws billions of gallons of water up from the sea into the air where
it condenses into clouds. In time these clouds shower the water back
to earth, where it flows down again to the sea. Mill wheels placed alongside
that flow can produce wonderful, clean energy, as can generators below
high dams. |
Here is an easy
demonstration of how sun creates biomass. The sun enables plants like
corn and soybeans to grow and produce oils that in turn can be used
to fuel machines producing alternative energy. Unlike gas and oil and
coal, these sources of energy are renewable with every growing season. |
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Smog in
a bottle
Science Lesson Plan
Demonstration
One problem with traditional energy sources like
coal, oil, and gas is that they produce gasses and tiny particles that
can foul the air and produce smog when tiny droplets of water condense
around them. |
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