Solar Energy: An Engaging Approach for Teaching Voltage, Current, and Power

The use of solar energy for the production of electricity is such an intriguing field given its tremendous potential. In a single hour, the earth absorbs more solar energy than humanity uses in an entire year. In fact, there is about twice as much solar energy absorbed by the earth in one year than will ever be recovered from all possible non-renewable sources combined. It is no wonder that there has been such interest in this field in recent years. While it is true that current technologies are not adequate for practical widespread electricity generation, new approaches offer promise for smaller scale, portable generation. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an intriguing background using solar energy for the development of the concepts of voltage, current, and how they are related to energy and power. The proposed in-class experiment will be geared to the grade 9 physics curriculum.

Micah Stickel’s love of physics began with the exceptional teachings of Mr. Stock and Ms. Ness at Humberside Collegiate Institute in the west end of Toronto. Since then he has gone on to study electrical and computer engineering at the University of Toronto, receiving his PhD degree in 2006. In 2007 he joined the faculty of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Toronto as a lecturer. He has taught the second-year Electric and Magnetic Fields course numerous times and strives to bring the engineering realities into the classroom through demonstrations and discussions of current engineering developments of electricity and magnetism.