Pre-Institute Activities
Please Complete the Pre-Test (available to take beginning January 1st, 2024) by July 8, 2023.
By reviewing this lesson, you’ll learn about silicon, how a silicon photovoltaic cell works, and see how our CREATE classroom materials are structured and packaged.
Go to our website: https://createenergy.org/
Once there, navigate to Resources - Teaching Materials.
Scroll down to find Solar PV: Silicon
Read the Student Lesson and Response Guide for the lesson found under ►Student Materials
Open each of the documents found under ►Instructor Materials. Review features of each of the instructor materials available for the lesson.
At some point in this process, you’ll be required to create a login to CREATE. Nothing about your identity will ever be revealed, nor will your email become littered with messages from CREATE.
The Videos Below Will Help You Learn the Basics of Electricity
This is an optional exercise but can be helpful for understanding the PV systems in our course.
Experience with electricity and electrical concepts is not required. We will teach you very basic concepts in these areas. If your recent experience with electricity is limited, you may find it useful to review the videos listed below.
1. Watch this video to learn the basics about electrical current in Amps:
5:40 Basic Electricity – What is an Amp?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gvJzrjwjds
2. Watch this video to learn the basics about electrical potential in Volts:
9:03 Basic Electricity – What is Voltage?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=TBt-kxYfync
3. Watch this video to learn basics about alternating current and direct current:
4:22 Difference Between AC and DC Current Explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN9aR2wKv0U
4. Watch this video to learn the basics about using a multimeter:
4:35 The BEST Multimeter tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3OyQ3HwfU
5. Watch this video to learn the basics about using a clamp-on ammeter:
2:37 How to use a clamp-on ammeter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-KfZvbjyBY