Make a Prediction
Do you predict the temperature increase for your collector will be in the top half of all the data sent to the
Catching Sunshine database, in the middle section, or in the bottom half?
- Before you make your prediction, consider the questions below.
- Write your prediction on the back of your data recording sheet.
- Explain your prediction.
Things to Think About:
Your Test Data: Use your test data to help you decide how well your collector will perform
on Catching Sunshine Day. When You'll Collect Data: At about noon, the sun is highest in the sky and more intense than
any other time of day. This means the temperature in a collector usually goes up the most at about noon. The Weather Forecast: As sunlight strikes the tiny water droplets that form clouds, it is scattered
in all directions. This means that less sunlight reaches a collector on a cloudy day than on a sunny day and the air inside does not get
as warm. Also, the movement of air on a windy day sweeps warm air away from a solar collector, reducing its temperature. This means
that the air temperature inside a collector rises less on a windy day than it does on a calm day. Elevation: Air gets thinner as you move toward higher elevations. Thinner air contains fewer particles
that can scatter sunlight. So collectors placed in locations at higher elevations receive more sunlight than those at lower elevations,
meaning the air inside gets warmer.
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