Solar+Energy+(Ryan+Tobbe)


 * __What is Solar Energy?__**

Solar Energy is definied as energy derived from the sun in the form of solar radiation. This radiation can be converted into countless different uses. For example, sceintists have found a way to convert solar energy into electricity and into a source for heating water in a household. Not only that but solar energy can be used to heat water suplies and even people's cars! The way that solar energy works is like this: media type="youtube" key="CbTb5lXJoaU" height="344" width="425" So as seen in the video above solar energy works in a cyle in the sense that when photons from the sun hit the solar pannels, the photons are converted into dirrect electricity. From there the newly freed electrons are funneled through the bottom of the power cell and move in a current through the electrical wires. This process allows electricity to flow into its primary place of use, and thus is the process of solar energy. The flow of electricity is constant too, meaning that electrons will continue to move in a cycle back into the power cell and then back out to be used as electricity.


 * __What problem(s) is it trying to address?__**

Solar energy is trying to help adress (and solve) the on going battle against the climate crisis, and glabal warming. A household of five people that is not powered by solar energy emmit about 103,750 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. That is only one house of five people. By running a house on solar power one can greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the ammount of Carbon that is put into the atmoshere. Solar energy will keep use only the right ammount of electricity to power a house or car AND most importantly it will keep that ugly number mentoined above from trapping heat in the atmosphere.


 * __When is it useful?__**

Solar Energy is useful when thinking about alternative energy solutions. In this day in age, people seem to be more and more conscious about how they can reduce Carbon emmisions into the atmosphere and also help save money that result from buring precious fossil fuels that put the carbon in the atmosphere. Using solar energy as an alternative to burning fossil fuels is a long term solution to fixing what Al Gore calls "An Inconvient Truth".

 **__How does the topic relate to one or more of the nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, water) discussed in class? EXPLAIN.__**

Solar Energy plays its biggest role in the carbon cycle because with out sunlight, the whole cycle would be thrown out of wack. The sun gives the producers the energy they need to break down CO2 in order to produce oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. Without the producers forming O2 then the consumers can't produce CO2 which will would just result in a big mess for the life on Earth. The sun also plays a key role in causing water to evaporate and rise up inot the atmosphere during the process of evapoation in the water cycle. The diagram above shows how the water cycle is all put in place by thermal energy from the sun.


 * __Is it a viable solution to protect the biosphere? EXPLAIN.__**

"As the technology for solar cells gets better and better, this form of clean, renewable energy will find more applications that take up less space and produce more electricity, to meet the energy needs of our homes, schools and businesses." (SAMUEL BODMAN) Solar energy is most definitely a long term solution to protecting the biosphere. Not only will the switch to solar energy reduce billions of tons of carbon released into the atmosphere, but it will also greatly reduce the average person's electric and gas bills as well. Plus the sun's energy isn't supposed to burn outfor about another billion years from now. The eaths supply of fossil fuels will probably not last quite that long. Also the fact that solar energy is a renewable engery should just make it all more attractive to the average consumer. So in essence it seems as if the best way to cut down on (and eventually eliminate) the burning of fossils fuels, is to go solar.

__**What are the possible consequences to the environment?**__

Now with every great solution there also comes some unfortunate minuses that tag along to the problem. In the case of solar energy, there is a risk of solar energy being possibly dangerous, in a sense that nuclear fussion and hydrogen energy are at its core. These risk have the potential to be dangerous however are not really the main conscern for most. As a whole, solar energy would be just a semi large expence for the average consumer in a sense that there may be high taxes in order to construct a vast amount solar pannel, which don't exactly come cheap. Howvever when one is faced with spending a few extra dollars up front compared to the savings that renewable energy is bound to reap, and the saving from global warming on a larger scale the decision should be easy. Solar Power is a clean and efficient way to reduce carbon emmissions and to renew energy as a whole.

Work Cited

Simanek, E. (1999, July). //THE HAZARDS OF SOLAR ENERGY//. Retrieved from []

(2007, April 12). //Chapter 15: Solar Energy//. Retrieved from []

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2009). //How Solar Energy Works//. Retrieved from []

Environmental Protection Agency,. (n.d.). //Household Emissions Calculator//. Retrieved from []