Mon, June 23 - Course description, introductions of one another, class interests and possible projects, unit conversions and math issues, seven forms of energy and interconversions among them, the water cycle and carbon cycle, website tour, web surfing for project ideas

Homework - Read Chap 2 (pp 35-59)
Questions #2, 3, 7, 11, 13
Problems # 13, 14, 15
Activity #2.3 plus any one Further Activity

Tues, June 24 - Discuss Chap 2 reading & homework, establish "expert" groups

Lab - solar cells

Measured voltage and current from silicon solar cells in room light, floodlight, and outdoors in sunlight
tested the effects of series and parallel connections of multiple cells
used solar cells to power small motors
visited the 1 kW solar array on the 3rd floor patio of Science Building 2

Homework - Read Chap 6 (pp 155-200)
Question # 9
Problems # 2, 3, 4
Write journal entries

Journal starters:
What does it mean when someone claims we don’t have an energy crisis but a power crisis?
What will your expert group be?
Why did you associate with this group?
What do you expect to get out of this group?
What do you expect to contribute to this group?

Write up, in an appropriately organized form, the information you obtained from the experiments with the PV cells.
Assuming that one cell puts out 0.4 volts and 100 mA, describe what combinations you would need to create an energy source for
a) 3 volts and 100 mA
b) 0.3 volts and 500 mA
c) 1 volt and 200 mA

Wed, June 25 - Review Chap 2 homework, discuss Chap 6 reading & homework

Lab results summary:

at fullsun (or floodlight) -
small black cells put out about 0.4-0.5 V and about 100 mA
the white framed cell put out about 0.12 V and about 50 mA
the larger plastic cells put out about 2.4 V and about 60 mA (cells in series?)

at lower light intensities -
current diminishes, voltage stays about the same

in series -
voltage adds, current stays about the same

in parallel -
voltage stays about the same, current adds

motors could all be run using a single small cell
#1 could be run with as little as 0.31 V and 20 mA (about 6 milliwatts)

Energy overview - Dr. Wamser
This PowerPoint file is available on the WebCT site, as are the papers cited on global warming

Thurs, June 26 - Review Chap 6 homework, discuss Chap 12 reading & homework

Lab - Artificial photosynthesis, Gratzel cells

Students constructed cells from TiO2 electrodes soaked in marionberry juice
(based on an article from the Journal of Chemical Education - see the WebCT site)

Voltage and current from each cell were measured using artificial light from an overhead projector.

Three cells in a series (using cells constructed by Dur, Jeremy's 2nd cell and Sandrio) produced a current
of 28 microamps and measured 1.19 volts

Four cells in a series (using Jeremy's 2nd cell, Lori's, Sandrio's and Tristan's cells) produced a current of 86 microamps and measured 1.12 volts

Students observed improved readings when the marionberry side of the cell was facing the light.

Mon, June 30 -

Guest lecture - Doug Boleyn, Solar Energy Association of Oregon, Cascade Solar Consulting

Residential Applications of Solar Energy

passive heating/cooling
daylighting
water heating
photovoltaics

Tues, July 1 -

Guest lecture - Emily Moore, PSU Sustainable Energy Intern

PowerPoint file available on WebCT

Wed, July 2 -

Project work

Thurs, July 3 -

Discuss group project outlines (about 10 minutes each)
Project work

Mon, July 7 -

Field trip - People's Coop

The class visited People's Food Cooperative in SE Portland.
Pedro provided information about the coop and the priorities that went into the design of the new
building. Some of the features include: passive solar design, cobb structure, eco roofs, water recycling
techniques, a worm bin, a solar chimney, and an emphasis on communal space. For more information about
the building visit People's website at http://www.peoples.coop.

Tues, July 8 -

Group presentations

Wed, July 9 -

Discuss individual project outlines
Exam review (handout)
Artificial photosynthesis (Wamser Energy Slideshow on WebCT)

Thurs, July 10 -

Midterm Exam (see sample on the website)
Project work

Mon, July 14 -

Project work

Tues, July 15 -

Project work

Wed, July 16 -

Individual project presentations

Thurs, July 17 -

Individual project presentations