ENV 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Plutonium-239, Nevada Test Site, Atomic Nucleus
Document Summary
Varies with latitude, season, time of day, cloud cover. Passive solar energy: uses sun"s energy without requiring mechanical devices to distribute the collected heat, certain design features can enhance passive solar energy"s heating potential of buildings, water, features: Active solar energy: collects and absorbs the sun"s energy, uses pumps or fans to distribute the collected heat, can be used to produce heat or electricity. Power a hot water heater: 8% of energy in the us is used to heat water. Produces electricity by concentrating the sun"s energy by mirrors or lenses: heats a fluid-filled pipe or drives an engine. More efficient than other solar technologies: no air pollution, no contribution to global warming or acid precipitation. A wafer or thin film made of semiconductor materials (computer chips) Sunlight hits cells, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms. Use on any scale: lighted road sign, entire building, pros. Copper mountain solar facility near boulder city, nevada.
