Chapter 1 Introduction A.

Background of the Study As our world moving faster and faster, more problems are beginning to threaten our community, one of which is the increasing gas prices. Historically, the price of fuel has fluctuated. During periods of high supply and low demand, the price of fuels such as gasoline and diesel has dropped, while during periods of tight supply the price has raised. This shift in fuel prices can affect the economy in a number of ways. Food prices, transportation and consumer habits is usually affected by this said problem. The price of food often correlates strongly with the price of fuel. This is because much of the expense of producing food is derived from the purchase of fuel that is used in the food's production. In transportation, when the price of fuel rises, the price of transporting people and goods rises as well. One result is that the prices of those imported goods that must travel long distances will increase. People may choose to travel shorter distances, when they have that option, in order to save on fuel costs. Although a rise in fuel prices generally hurts the manufacturing industry, some domestic companies can benefit from this increase as imports become more expensive, giving domestic companies a competitive advantage. While in consumer habits, the price of fuel can change the habits of consumers, particularly in the purchase of those products that require a lot of fuel to use, such as cars. For example, if an increase in gasoline prices is sustained over a long enough period of time, consumers may begin to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles with the expectation that less fuel-efficient vehicles would be too costly to operate. 1

E. Significance of the Study

This study will be a significant endeavor in promoting an environmentally friendly community because solar energy dont release anything into the air compared to fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide. Our research, the solar-powered toy car will indeed help the crowd to change their habits in using fuels in powering their vehicles instead they will use the solar energy from the sun to make their cars work. In the long run, solar electricity is cheaper than buying it from the power company. Thats why; this study will be beneficial to all car owners, company owners, consumers and as well as our environment because we can spend lesser amount of money and we can help our Mother Earth from pollution brought by carbon dioxide from companies and vehicles. Also, in using solar energy, we can generate our own source of electricity via solar panels potentially enabling us to live off grid. In other words we need not be dependent on the public utility companies to supply our power and we also wont be required to pay for out power. Moreover, this research will provide recommendations on how to use solar-powered electricity to evaluate the performance of a certain power in accordance to consumers management.

G .Review of Related Literature

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used. Solar powered electrical generation relies on heat engines and photovoltaic. Solar energy's uses are limited only by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, day-lighting, solar hot water, solar cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes. To harvest the solar energy, the most common way is to use solar panels. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. Solar energy is an alternative energy source that involves harnessing the radiant light energy emitted by the sun and converting it into electrical current. Since the middle of the 20th century, the ability to harness and utilize solar energy has greatly increased, making it possible for homes and businesses to make use of the renewal energy source rather than rely on more conventional means of generating power. 5

Researches into the applications of solar energy continue, along with the development of more cost-effective ways to capture and store the energy for future use. At present, the most common means of harnessing solar power is the utilization of a system involving a series of solar panels and storage batteries. The panels collect the radiant light and store the captured energy in the batteries. While energy is stored, it can also be used real time to operate various types of machinery and home appliances. The excess is stored for use at night or in other situations where radiant light is not readily available for some reason.

The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insulation) at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and nearinfrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet. Earth's land surface, oceans and atmosphere absorb solar radiation, and this raises their temperature. Warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, causing atmospheric circulation or convection. When the air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapor condenses into clouds, which rain onto the Earth's surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as wind, cyclones and anticyclones. Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14 C. By photosynthesis green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.

The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year. In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year. Photosynthesis captures approximately 3,000 EJ per year in biomass. The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium combined. Solar energy can be harnessed in different levels around the world. Depending on a geographical location the closer to the equator the more "potential" solar energy is available.

A simple definition for fuel oil is a lighter type of oil, or a liquid byproduct of crude oil, which is used for energy, especially in regard to heating. When petroleum is refined, there are two main categories under which it is classified. One is distillate oils, which includes diesel, and the other is residual oils, which includes things like kerosene. Different types of fuel oil are classified under both categories. Distillate fuel oil is the type generally used for home heating. While gasoline is also a byproduct of the petroleum refining process, it is far less stable than the fuel oil used to heat homes and commercial properties. Even so, the rise and fall of gas prices is generally a good indicator of the stability, or lack thereof, of fuel oil prices. Since the price of crude oil directly affects the price of fuel oil, consumers should be prepared to pay more to heat their homes as the worldwide demand for oil and gas continues to increase. The costs of refining must also be figured in to the price of fuel oil, as must the costs of transporting and distributing it. 7

When the price of crude oil rises, gas prices go up, so the price of transporting fuel oil does as well. This may be felt even more by families that live in rural locations, requiring longer trips to transport and distribute fuel oil.

Fuel stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air. Other processes used to convert fuel into energy include various other exothermic chemical reactions and nuclear reactions, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. Fuels are also used in the cells of organisms in a process known as cellular respiration, where organic molecules are oxidized to release usable energy. Hydrocarbons are by far the most common source of fuel used by humans, but many other substances, such as radioactive metals, are currently used as well. Seasonal issues tend to play a role in the price of fuel oil as well. During periods when the demand for gasoline is high, refining companies process less fuel oil for heating. This means that when the demand for home heating oil increases, so will the price, because the supply is limited. This fact often causes the price to rise quickly and sharply. In the U.S., much of the oil that is consumed, including heating oil comes from foreign sources. Some of the refining is done in the States, but the rest is refined in other countries such as Canada or Venezuela, which may also affect the price.

B. Statement of the Problem

The group wants to test the product if it could really help the community to spend lesser amount of money buying fuels and in producing electricity. Thus, the group wants to answer the following questions:

1. Is solar energy useful to all mankind and to our environment? 2. What are the benefits of using solar energy?

C. Hypothesis of the Study

Based on the preceding problems the following hypothesis was formulated: 1. Solar energy produces neither emissions, nor does it discharge water or require water in order to operate while fossil fuel emissions containing carbon dioxide. 2. Solar energy is a renewable resource which cannot be depleted while fossil fuels, however, are a finite resource.

D. Objective of the Study

Nowadays, our world is facing too much anxiety. One of which is the increasing gas prices. Hence, the specific aims of the research project are:

1. To determine the usage of solar energy to the community; 2. To know the advantages of using solar energy.

F. Scope and Limitations

The resurgence of continuous increasing gas prices where no exception in our phenomenon. In the extermination of this problem, it is widely practiced to have a plan of action in order to solve this case. A part of the problem with the prior methods has involved the fact that it is necessary to make sure that sufficient energy is used. In order to insure this, it is necessary to use renewable energy which is the solar energy. Solar energy has been around for billions of years, and unlike the limited supply of fossil fuels found on the earth, it will be around for billions more. It's also a natural energy source that does not produce any harmful emissions or direct waste.

There are, however, some limitations to solar energy that for now prevent it from being the world's dominant source for its energy needs. Solar energy's biggest limitation is its sporadic availability. Because clouds and, of course, nightfall interrupt the collection of solar energy, many solar plants actually are hybrid plants that also need a secondary fossil fuel source, such as natural gas, to keep producing energy. It does not always provide the level of power necessary to fulfill energy needs of a business or area. In those cases, a secondary energy source must supplement the solar energy.

H. Definition of Terms

Biomass - is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms Fossil fuels - are fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms Heightened - to increase the amount or degree of Hydrocarbons - is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon Hydroelectricity - iselectricity produced by hydro powerthat is, the energy of moving water Ingenuity - inventive skill or imagination Latent - existing as potential Minuscule - very small Petawatts - this means to the power 15, ie 1 petawatt = 1015 watts Photovoltaics - is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photo voltaic effect. Redox - reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation number changed. Solar energy - radiant light and heat from the sun Solar panels - is a packaged, interconnected assembly of solar cells

Bibliography

Online References

http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity

http:// www.newworldencyclopedia.org

http:// www.answers.com/topic/ingenuity

http:// www.wikianswers.com

http:// www.wisegeek.com/what-is-solar-energy.htm

Chapter II

Methodology

Materials:

The researchers prepared the following materials. First is the batteryoperated car, then the solar panel (small), screw driver, and the last is the electrical tape.

Procedure:

First, open the toy car with screw driver then, find the two wire(black and red)that connected with battery case, cut and replace it with the wire of the solar panel and lastly, put the solar panel above the toy car, but make sure to make it tight by putting electrical tape on it to avoid unnecessary accident.

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Presentation of Data 11AM SOLAR ENERGY 12PM 1PM 3PM

7Km/hour

10Km/hour

15 Km/hour

13 Km/hour

11AM BATTERY CELL

12PM

1PM

3PM

15 Km/hour

13 Km/hour

10 Km/hour

7 Km/hour

This table shows that solar energy is only useful when there is efficient source of sunlight and for the battery cell it is more useful /effective if it is new. Analysis of Data ` The data gathered on the findings of solar energy efficiency shows that solar energy can only be useful when there is enough sunlight. It will not be beneficial to all the users if there is no energy coming from the sun.

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Chapter III Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Through all the experiment and the tests conducted by the group we had agreed that: The efficient the source of sunlight is, the more effective the product will be.

Recommendations

After doing the study about the solar-powered toy car, the group had come up with the following recommendation for the success of the study: The product can only be used when there is an efficient source of sunlight.

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Documentation

ii

Acknowledgement

This study would not have been possible without the guidance and the help of several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.

First and foremost, our utmost gratitude to our Almighty Creator for giving us knowledge to make this investigation possible and for giving us strength.

Mr. Jerome G. Villarosa for his guidance and for giving us learnings on how to make this research more successful.

Last but not the least, our beloved parents for supporting us and giving us our financial needs.

Abstract

There had been a number of problems that our world is facing nowadays. One of those is the prices of gas that are increasing. This study was then conducted in order to exterminate this said problem. Specifically, this research aimed to promote an environmentally friendly community and to have lesser amount of payments in electricity bills and other products.

Our intention to have this research is to change the minds of the crowd to use solar panels instead of fuels in powering their cars. Also, in using solar energy, we can generate our own source of electricity and power. This investigation will in turn benefit the humanity and our environment.

Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgement CHAPTER I Introduction a. Background of the study ..................... b. Statement of the Problem ........................ c. Hypothesis of the Study .................... d. Objective of the Study ........................ e. Significance of the Study ................ f. Scope and Limitations ..................... g. Review of Related Literature ................. h. Definition of Terms................................

1 2 2 2 3 4 5-8 9

CHAPTER II Methodology a. Materials ................... b. Procedure .................. c. Presentation of Data ............... d. Analysis of Data ..

10 10 11 11

CHAPTER III Results and Discussions d. Conclusion ........... e. Recommendations ........

12 12

Bibliography ..................... Documentation.....................

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The benefits of using Solar Energy as Battery Replacement to make the toy car work

In Partial Fulfillment for the Subject CHEMISTRY

A Scientific Research Presented by: Christine Marie Casipe Tricia Jhoy Barredo Romer Real

Living Heritage Christian Academy September 16, 2011

Mr. Jerome G. Villarosa Science and Research Adviser