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Introduction to Solar – Starter Pack

Summary

This solar starter pack combines a vocabulary list with a quiz and cloze notes to reinforce key concepts from the video. The quiz assesses students’ understanding of the challenges of solar energy and the types of backups used, while the vocabulary list defines essential terms like intermittent, modular, emissions, and landfills to aid in comprehension.

Bell Ringer

Instructions: Answer the prompt provided by your teacher.









Vocabulary

Instructions: Watch the Introduction to Solar video and listen for the vocabulary words.

WordDefinitionExample
Generateverb; to produce or create something, especially power or electricity“To generate electricity, solar panels just need sunlight.”
Standardizedadjective; made the same in form or quality, so that things work the same way everywhere“The technology is common and manufacturing is standardized.”
Modularadjective; made of separate parts or modules that can be combined or rearranged.“The panels are lightweight, easy to install, and modular, meaning solar systems can be very small …”
Scaledverb; changed in size to make things bigger or smaller, depending on what’s needed“ . . . or they can be scaled reasonably quickly for large projects . . .”
Emissionsnoun; pollutants or gases released into the air, often by vehicles or power plants“. . . all while producing zero emissions at the generation source.”
Displaceverb; to force something or someone to move from its usual or original place“Large solar plants cover enormous areas of land that displace wildlife . . .”
Inefficientadjective; not working in the best way – it wastes energy, time or resources“The panels themselves are inefficient at making electricity . . .”
Landfillsnoun; places where trash and waste are buried under the ground“They wear out, and need to be disposed of in landfills.”
Intermittentadjective; starting and stopping – not happening all the time“This means solar needs an electricity source to backup its intermittent output.”
Gridnoun; a system of wires and power lines that brings electricity to homes and buildings“This [backup] can be a battery system or a grid connection . . .”
On Demandadjective phrase; available whenever it is needed, without delay“This [backup] can be . . . on demand generation like natural gas or hydro . . .”

Quiz & Cloze Notes

Instructions: Circle the correct answer based on what you learned in the Introduction to Solar video and then fill in the blanks using the word bank. 

Q1. Which form of electricity generation produces the fewest CO2 emissions? 

  1. Solar photovoltaics
  2. Oil
  3. Coal
  4. Natural Gas

Q2. What is the biggest challenge to the use of solar energy? 

  1. The intermittency of the energy source
  2. Environmental impacts from manufacturing
  3. The cost of manufacturing
  4. Public acceptance

Q3. What typically happens to solar panels when they wear out?

  1. They are recycled easily.
  2. Their efficiency increases.
  3. They are biodegradable.
  4. They are sent to landfills.

Q4: What kind of backup is often used for solar energy systems?

  1. More solar backup
  2. Battery systems or power grid connection
  3. Wind turbines
  4. Nuclear energy

Word Bank

backupemissionsgenerateinefficient
intermittentlandfillssun

Solar panels ____________________ electricity using energy from the ____________________. They produce no ____________________ during use, but they are ____________________ at making electricity and only work when the sun is out, making their power ____________________. This means solar needs ____________________ sources like batteries. Use panels may end up in ____________________ and can harm the environment.

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