Passive Solar design
Welcome to my solar design project! For this project our task was to design a tiny house that was eco-friendly. We started off by designing the first our floor plan. Then we learned about different solar ways to get heat. Then we did a couple different experiments to test materials.
Experiments:
Solar Water Heater
For our first experiment we created and tested a solar water heater. My group took a pizza box and lined it with a black trash bag. Then, we put ten copper pipes in the bottom and placed saran wrap over the top to keep heat inside. Last, we adjusted four mirrors to reflect the light to the copper pipes. When the copper pipes heat up it heats the water.
We took temperature at the beginning and end. We did this to find out the change in temperature. Our begging temperature was 18 degrees Celsius and the final was 35 degrees Celsius. We left our water heater in direct sunlight for seventy minutes.
After we got all of our information we calculated the heat gain. We had a very big heat gain. Our heat gain had 99,6262 Joules. Compared to other groups we had one of the biggest heat gains. Our heater was very successful.
We took temperature at the beginning and end. We did this to find out the change in temperature. Our begging temperature was 18 degrees Celsius and the final was 35 degrees Celsius. We left our water heater in direct sunlight for seventy minutes.
After we got all of our information we calculated the heat gain. We had a very big heat gain. Our heat gain had 99,6262 Joules. Compared to other groups we had one of the biggest heat gains. Our heater was very successful.
Day lighting Model
For our next project we designed a cardboard house model to test different solar light methods. The project was designed to help us learn about things like skylights, solar tubes, clerestory windows, light shelves, and different size windows and direction.
To test it we used a light bulb and mimics the sun during different seasons and types of day. In the end we gathered all of our information to find which types of passive solar lighting was the best.
To test it we used a light bulb and mimics the sun during different seasons and types of day. In the end we gathered all of our information to find which types of passive solar lighting was the best.
Materials Heat Lab
The purpose of this lab was to see how different materials were affected by heat. Below you can see the lab instructions and data tables.
In conclusion this helped us choose our materials. We chose bamboo for the floor because it does not get very hot when sun shines on it. For roofing we chose terracotta because it keeps heat in. For walls we chose white drywall because it will not keep the heat in.
In conclusion this helped us choose our materials. We chose bamboo for the floor because it does not get very hot when sun shines on it. For roofing we chose terracotta because it keeps heat in. For walls we chose white drywall because it will not keep the heat in.
Tiny House
Once we tested all the materials we had to create a tiny house. For our design process we first had to figure out a location and how many peolpe we wanted our house to hold. Then we started to design a floor plan then some blueprints and last we found materials. By the end of this project we had a fully ready to build tiny home!
Powerpoint
Blueprints
Materials List
Wind Turbine Lab
For this lab we learned about wind turbines and generating electricity. We tested different blades on a low, med, and high wind speeds. Then we focused in on one variable and came up with a claim and evidence.
Physics Concepts Used
Conduction - transfer of heat through a material
Convection - transfer of heat through a fluid
Radiation - energy transmitted as rays, waves, or particles
Insulation - The way to keep heat or cold inside of an area
Heat - a form of energy (Q)
Specific Heat - a physical property of matter that states the heat capacity of a certain object. Objects with higher numbers take longer to heat up, but also take longer to cool down. Objects with low specific heat capacities heat up quickly, but also lose that heat fast as well
Solar Angles
For this project we also had to figure out different sun angles so we know were the most efficient places to place our windows are. Solar angles can be useful for bringing in light to homes. Although, solar angles can change over the year because of the Earth's rotation and because Earth is at a tilt of 23.5 degrees. This can cause seasons. To test this we had to flash a flashlight at different angles to demonstrate the sun during seasons and times of day. We learned where we should place our key features of our house and how we could get the maximum amount of light in during all times of the year.
Day lighting Techiques
skylights - a window cut into the roof that allows light to travel inside
light shelf - a window sill that reflects incoming sun rays onto the ceiling and then into the room
solar tube - a highly reflective tube that brings daylight into a home by bouncing the light through the tube
clerestory window - a window placed close to the ceiling on the walls, used to bring slanted light into the room
light shelf - a window sill that reflects incoming sun rays onto the ceiling and then into the room
solar tube - a highly reflective tube that brings daylight into a home by bouncing the light through the tube
clerestory window - a window placed close to the ceiling on the walls, used to bring slanted light into the room
Why energy efficient house?
Reflection
Overall I feel that my end product was almost exactly what I wanted. The people in my group were great to work with and we all got along very well.As a group I think we could have worked on communication. We could have conversed more about decisions. Personally, I think I could have been better about leadership. I could have been on top of more things in my group. Besides that i feel my group did a very nice job.
As far as things we excelled at there were two main things. As a group we were very good at listening to each others ideas. By the end our vision was completed with the help of everyone's ideas. Personally I did a really good job at my work productivity. Each day I feel I managed my time wisely. This project was fun and it turned out to be an awesome product!
As far as things we excelled at there were two main things. As a group we were very good at listening to each others ideas. By the end our vision was completed with the help of everyone's ideas. Personally I did a really good job at my work productivity. Each day I feel I managed my time wisely. This project was fun and it turned out to be an awesome product!