Does it really matter what angle the solar cell makes with the incoming sunlight? If so, does it matter much? When the sun moves across the sky, solar cells on a house receive different amounts of sunlight. You’re going to find out exactly how much this varies by building your own solar boat.
We’re going to use solar cells and the basic ideas from Unit 10 (Electricity & Robotics) to build a solar-powered race car. You’ll need to find these items below. Note – if you have trouble locating parts, check the shopping list for information on how to order it straight from us.
- Solar motor
- Solar cell
- Foam block (about 6” long)
- Alligator clip leads
- Propeller (you can rip one off an old small personal fan or old toy, or find them at hobby stores)
Here’s what you do:
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It makes a cleaner cut anyways, but it also makes foam dust!
Works even better to use a fine toothed hand saw to cut the foam, rather than a razor blade.