Solar energy is a very useful resource. Today 80% of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels and about 1% comes from solar energy. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable, that means that they are used up faster than they could be replaced. Also fossil fuels limited and cause pollution. They are the primary cause for air pollution that causes acid rain and global warming. The good thing about solar energy is that it is renewable because it is always replaced. Also solar energy does not pollute the enviornment. There are four ways to use solar energy: passive solar heating systems, active solar heating systems, solar thermal power plants, and solar cells. Solar cells convert the sunlight into electricity. In my experiments, I would be answering these questions. How can you maximize the use of solar cells? At what angle should the solar cell be put for the best collection? How do weather conditions affect the collection of the solar cell? Does temperature affect the solar cell? I think the solar cell should be angled toward the sun for the best use of it. Also I think the weather affects the solar cell by causing the sun to not directly hit the solar cell. Finally, I think the temperature does not affect the solar cell. .

             About 47 percent of the energy that the sun releases to the earth reaches the ground. It reaches the earth in the form of photons. About a third is reflected directly back into space by the atmosphere. The only time when we could use the solar energy is when the sun is up-the daytime. Because the sun's energy when the sun is not up, we have found ways to convert the sun"s energy so it could be stored. One way of storing solar energy is by heating water that can be insulated. The water is heated by passing it through hollow panels. Black-coated steal plates are used because dark colors absorb heat better. The bad thing about this way is that only gives enough energy for things like washing and bathing.