Lab: Energy Sources and Alternative Energy
Read "Lab: Energy Sources and Alternative Energy." This lab will allow you to investigate the effects of acid mine drainage through experimentation. Additionally, it will allow for the exploration of solar energy through the use of a solar cell motor. Then, you will utilize this information and your eSciencelab kit to complete Experiments 1 and 2 on the Week Four Lab Reporting Form. Make sure to complete all of the following items before submission:
1. Read through introductory material.
2. Perform Experiment 1: The Effects of Coal Mining using youreSciencelab manual and kit.
3. Complete Table 1 and answer the Post Lab Questions 1 through 4 in complete sentences on the Week Four Lab Reporting Form.
4. Perform Experiment 2: Solar Energy using youreSciencelab manual and kit.
5. Complete Table 2 and answer Post Lab Questions 1 through 5 in complete sentences on the Week Four Lab Reporting Form.
Lab 4 - Energy Sources and Alternative Energy
Experiment 1: The Effects of Coal Mining
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Table 1: pH of Water Samples
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Water Sample
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Initial pH
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Final pH (after 48 hours)
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Pyrite
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Activated Carbon
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Water
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POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop hypotheses predicting the effect of pyrite and coal (activated carbon) on the acidity of water?
a. Pyrite hypothesis =
b. Coal (activated carbon) hypothesis =
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Pyrite hypothesis accept/reject =
b. Coal (activated carbon) hypothesis accept/reject =
3. Based on your data, what effect do you predict coal mining has on the environment?
4. What can be done to prevent mine drainage from damaging the ecosystem? Utilize at least one scholarly resource to support your suggestions.
Experiment 2: Solar Energy
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Table 2: Solar Energy Experiment Results
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Environmental Descriptor/Variable
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Observations
(Each should be compared against direct sunlight)
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Weather of the Day
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Motor speed in direct sunlight
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Motor speed at 45 degree angle
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Motor speed under reflectors
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Motor speed with 25% shaded
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Motor speed with 50% shaded
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Motor speed with 75% shaded
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Motor speed under red filtration
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Motor speed under blue filtration
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Motor speed under green filtration
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Motor speed under yellow filtration
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Post-Lab Questions
1. Develop hypotheses predicting the efficiency of solar energy from direct sunlight against the four variables tested?
Direct vs indirect hypothesis =
Direct vs reflected hypothesis =
Direct vs shaded hypothesis =
Direct vs filtered hypothesis =
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Direct vs indirect accept/reject =
Direct vs reflected accept/reject =
Direct vs shaded accept/reject =
Direct vs filtered accept/reject =
3. Does increased exposure to the sun's light produce more current? Explain how you know this based on your data.
4. How could you increase the electricity generated by a solar cell during the day, when the sun's angle is constantly changing?
5. Based on your data, could adding filters to solar panels increase the solar energy produced? Explain how you know this.
References
Any sources utilized should be listed here.