Unit Summary: Students will explore and gain experiences related to solar hydrogen systems and thermal energy transfer through materials. Students will also investigate other forms of renewable & inexhaustible energy sources.
Big Ideas:
Energy management is focused on efficient and accessible energy use.
Energy systems can include multiple energy sources that can be combined to convert energy into useful forms.
Hydrogen fuel cells create electricity through an electrochemical process that splits hydrogen into hydrogen ions and flowing electrons (electricity).
Solar cells convert light energy into electricity by using photons to create electron flow. atomic structure of a material determines whether it is a conductor, an insulator, or a semiconductor.
Essential Questions:
In what innovative ways could the efficiency of electricity production using solar cells be maximized throughout the day?
Describe how hydrogen fuel cells could become a viable way of producing energy for vehicles.
What advancements in technology and infrastructure need to take place to make its usage more common?
A hydrogen fuel cell by itself is not sufficient to power much of anything in our society. How could fuel cells be configured to produce enough voltage and current to a system?
Priority TEKS
Explain that hydrogen fuel cells transform chemical energy stored in hydrogen gas to electrical energy and heat, converting hydrogen and oxygen into water
Describe the use of reversible fuel cells as electrolyzers to store electrical energy for later use.
Describe the use of solar cells to convert light energy into electricity
Test and apply the relationships among voltage, current, and resistance in series and parallel circuits that incorporate photovoltaic cells and hydrogen fuel cells.
Activities & Projects
Reading and discussion posting
Fuel Cell Guided Notes s
Fuel Cell Safety Quiz
Solar-Hydrogen Activity