Rowe+Solar+Energy+2

Zak Emilie Maya

Emilie: Hello. I am Gabriella your host. Thanks for calling this science radio talk show! Today, we will have two professors joining us. Maya: Hello. I am professor Lisa. I come from Maryland. I teach high school students about science. Zak: Hi. I am professor Sam. I am a exchange student from Germany and Lisa is my tutor. I feel very honored to be on such a interesting talk show. Emilie: I feel honored to have two professors on my science radio talk show today. I feel that this is a special edition. So, what have you two come to talk about today? Maya: We have come to talk about solar energy. Should we first learn the definition of solar energy? Emilie: Well, before I listen to that, are you and Sam discussing different sides of the topic, solar energy? Zak: Yes, I will talk about the cons and Lisa will talk about the pros. Maya: Now, I will tell you the definition. Solar energy is energy that can make electricity for homes, works etc. by using solar panels - Emilie: What are solar panels? Maya: Solar panels are panels that take the sun rays and collect them. After this is done the rays go into storage batteries. Then the storage batteries are connected to wires that make energy for electricity to be created. To make this work the solar panels are connected to the batteries witch is connected to the wires. Zak: Lets get to the cons first. One con is that pollution can affect the efficency of solar panels. This happens when the pollution goes into the panels and makes them not work as well. Zak: Would you like to know another con? Emilie: Sure. i'd love to hear another thing about solar energy. Zak: some people don't like using solar panels because of all the work that is needed to get them set up so this means not many panels are used. Here is another con. Solar panels are very heavy and hard to maneuver. This is another reason not many people use them. Emilie: How about one more con? Zak: Sure. Solar energy panels only produce energy during daytime. So half of the day, solar panels don't produce any light in your house, buisiness, etc. Emilie: How about some pros from professor Lisa? Maya: Sure here is one. Many people use solar panels because they are very cost affective. This means that solar panels do not cost much money. Zak: Okay. Want a pro? Emilie: Sure. Maya: Solar panels give off no pollution so they are safe for the environment. Emilie: Thats neat. Do you know another one Lisa? Maya: In fact I do. Solar energy can be very efficiant in large areas of the globe meaning solar panels can be used or put up in any part of the world. Zak: Lisa, that was a great pro. I never knew that. Emilie: Since you professors have done alot of talking, can I say some things I know? Zak: You know about solar energy? Emilie: Yes. Indeed I do. There are calculators that use solar energy, not ellectrcity and occasionally have no off button. Maya: Now I feel that i'm the person who is interviewing you because that was a great fact. Zak: Lisa, should we wrap up soon? Maya: Sure. We'll wrap up after a few more facts. Emilie: Want to hear another fact? Zak/Maya: Sure lets hear it. Emilie: There are many families out there who use solar panels to power their entire house. Zak: Wow! Thats cool. How about three more facts then we'll wrap up. Emilie: Thats sounds great! I'll tell you three. First one is that solar panels take energy from the sun and put it the panels. How this happens is that the sunlight rays go into the panels and stay there. It all keeps collecting until there is alot of sunlight heat in the panels. I'll tell you one more astonishing thing. Here it comes!!! Solar panels can store alot of energy. The panels can even store energy at night when the sun is not out. Maya: Ok. Thanks for letting us tell you about solar energy. Emilie: Sure. I learned some really interesting things today. Zak: Ok Lisa. Lets get off air and study more about solar energy. Emilie: Thank you for joining us on our science radio talk show. Join us next time!

Emilie: (For more information go to [|www.alliantenergykids.com])