Renewable Energy with Vernier

In Renewable Energy with Vernier, students learn about renewable energy, experiment with variables affecting power output from model wind turbines and solar panels, and engage in engineering projects such as building a wind farm or a solar charger to meet certain design criteria.

Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), all of the experiments are designed to support students in three-dimensional learning. Disciplinary Core Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts are identified for each experiment within the Instructor pages.

Many of the experiments use the Go Direct® Energy Sensor and the Vernier Variable Load, two products that were designed to measure the power and energy output of renewable energy sources. The experiments also use the KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment KitsKidWind 2V solar panels, and Solar Thermal Exploration Kit.

 

Table of Contents

Experiment Suggested Products
1 Renewable Energy: Why is it So Important? Go Direct® Light and Color Sensor
2 What is Energy? Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor
3 Project: Energy Audit Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor
4 Voltage and Circuits Go Direct® Voltage Probe, Vernier Variable Load
5 Current and Resistors Go Direct® Energy Sensor
6 Mechanical Power KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
7 Generators KidWind simpleGEN, Go Direct® Energy Sensor
8 Exploring Wind Turbines Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
9 Effect of Load on Wind Turbine Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
10 Blade Variables and Power Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
11 Solidity Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
12 Turbine Efficiency Vernier Energy Sensor, Anemometer, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
13 Power Curves Vernier Energy Sensor, Anemometer, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
14 Power and Energy Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
15 Project: Maximum Energy Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
16 Project: Build a Wind Farm Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit
17 Exploring Solar Panels Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Go Direct® Light and Color Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind 2V/400mA Solar Panel
18A Effect of Load on Solar Panel Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind 2V/400mA Solar Panel
18B Fill Factor and IV Curve of a Solar Panel Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Go Direct® Voltage Probe, Vernier Variable Load
19 Variables Affecting Solar Panel Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind 2V/400mA Solar Panel, Go Direct® Light and Color Sensor
20 Effect of Temperature on Solar Panel Output Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind 2V/400mA Solar Panel
21 Project: Build a Solar Charger Go Direct® Energy Sensor, Vernier Variable Load, KidWind 2V/400mA Solar Panel
22 Exploring Passive Solar Heating Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor
23 Variables Affecting Passive Solar Heating Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor
24 Exploring Solar Collectors Go Direct® Light and Color Sensor, Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor, Solar Thermal Exploration Kit
25 Variables Affecting Solar Collectors Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor, Solar Thermal Exploration Kit
26 Project: Solar Cooker Go Direct® Surface Temperature Sensor