Solar Spinner Overview: Build a device from a solar cell, motor and petri dish. It demonstrates conversion of solar energy to electricity and then to mechanical energy.
Essential Question: How do we build a toy that uses solar energy to make it spin?
Background: The front of the solar cell is connected to one wire of the motor, and the back is connected to the other. This makes a complete circuit. It is very important not to let the leads that come from the top of cell to touch the tape coming from the bottom of the cell because this would cause a short circuit. It is important make a good contact between the cell and then wires to decrease the resistance to the flow of electricity. This project uses a thin brittle silicon solar cell which is very easy to break if uneven pressure is exerted on it. The sequence of instructions described below minimizes the risk of flexing the cell. Using conductive copper tape is easier, however not as durable as solar tabbing wire. You can also buy encapsulated solar cell with wires attached which are more expensive but easier to construct. The solar spinner can be embellished with decorations or blades to make it a STEAM (science technology engineering ART and math) artifact. Imagine a yard full of solar spinners that come alive as the sun moves across the sky. The solar spinner works best under full sun. It also can work indoors under a high intensity incandescent light. Regular room lights are usually not powerful enough.
Research Connection: Researchers are developing with new materials and designs for solar cells to make them more efficient, decrease cost, and make us of earth abundant and non polluting materials.
NGSS Standards: Standard Number 4-PS3-2 4-PS3-4 MS-PS2-3
Standard text Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents. Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.* Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
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Materials: • • • • • • •
Solar cell, Dc motor, 100 mm petri dish, foam adhesive tape, conductive adhesive copper tape clear plastic tape soldering iron, non lead solder and tabbing wire (if doing soldered version)
Procedure: petri lid 1. The solar cell should fit completely inside the large petri tttop dish lid without touching at the corners. The 52x52mm Solar cell cells fit without cutting. Unmounted solar cells are just like thin glass so be sure to wear goggles when Inverted petri bbottobobottom handling. Foam 2. Cut two 1”x ½” pieces of double sticky foam tape. Place tape the two strips near the center of the inside of the smaller dish (what would normally be the bottom of the dish) with a small gap motor between them. Peel off the protective coat and position motor exactly in the center. Press hard to make strong connection. 3. Cut two 2” strips of ¼” copper tape and apply to the stripped end of motor wires. On a very flat surface carefully rub down the tape and wire so that it makes full c contact with the contact strip on the back of the cell. Be careful not to let the top and bottom tapes touch causing a short circuit. Connect the red or positive wire to the con back of the cell to make the spinner turn clockwise. 4. Center the cell in on the inverted petri dish with the top or Copper tape applied to stripped wire and then dark side facing up. Press the wire with copper tape to the to junction strip. top contact strip and gently rub it smooth. 5. At this point you should be able to feel the motor shaft turning if you put it in the light. Test your solar cell with a voltmeter. One cell should yield .5 volts. 6. Put the lid of the petri dish over the cell and fix it with two small pieces of clear plastic tape. 7. Drill a 1/16” hole in a block of wood or the end of stick and press the solar spinner into the whole by the shaft so that the spinner sits level. 8. Place the solar spinner in the sun or under a high intensity incandescent light and watch it spin. 9. You can and reflective ribbons, blades or other decorations to your invention.
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Alternate Instructions using the encapsulated solar panel 1. To attach the encapsulated solar panel to the motor tape the bare ends of the motor wires to the copper strips on the back of the panel. 2. Press firmly to be sure there is wire to copper contact. Attach the motor directly to the back of the panel with foam tape. 3. Place one side of a petri dish over the panel to protect the cell form the elements. 4. Support the spinner on a toy wheel or by pressing the shaft into a piece of wood.
Extensions: Instead of attaching with copper tape you could solder the motor directly to the to the solar cell. This makes a more permanent and weather resistant connection. Sand the soldering strips first to clean them and make it easier to solder. Be sure to use lead free solder. Try fixing your solar spinner to the end of a stick which can be pushed into the ground.
Resources: Solar Spinner kit lesson insert_8x11 Solar Spinner presentation (unmounted cell version) https://www.cei.washington.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Solar-Spinner.pptx Solar Spinner Kit presentation http://cei.washington.edu/educationspace/CEI_Solar_Activity_Kit_spinners_cars.pptx
Sources: •
50 52mm x 52mm unmounted solar cells $8.71
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32967811200.html?spm=2114.search0604.3.2.51f25cc1PpF5sN &ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_9_10065_10130_10068_10890_10547_319_1054 6_317_10548_10545_10696_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10902_10059_1088 4_10887_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_6,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=8e7fed89-f144-48aa82a4-fc43841e103f-0&algo_pvid=8e7fed89-f144-48aa-82a4-fc43841e103f&transAbTest=ae803_3 •
1V encapsulated solar panel $2
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880589286.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4d411c2bb50usn &algo_pvid=cb7e3c7d-551e-475d-aa71-a4e7ab594b9c&algo_expid=cb7e3c7d-551e-475d-aa71Copyright © 2018 Clean Energy Institute - University of Washington 3
a4e7ab594b9c-4&btsid=f166381a-4b2a-4eb2-be36ec2e63698f61&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_9,searchweb201603_53 •
Small electric motor- $1.49
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32977469198.html?spm=a2g0o.placeorder.0.0.5aad321exbcG9 p&mp=1 •
conductive foil tape- ¼” $12.89
http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Conductive-Adhesive-Width-Length/dp/B009KB86BU •
100 mm Plastic Petri dish
https://www.amazon.com/100mmx15mm-Sterilized-Petri-DishesLids/dp/B00A1EN0JS/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=petri+dish&qid=1587591711&s=industrial&s r=1-8 •
Plastic wheel for mounting solar spinner
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0I4C0N/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AM748VWMVQ GT7&psc=1 •
The motor and solar cell can be purchased together with the Solar Fan kit $8.95
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Fan-Mini-xUmpSTEM/dp/B07TFB8QT1/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&keywords=solar+panel&qid=1587495831&s=toysand-games&sr=1-18
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