- #1
SimpliciusH
- 33
- 0
I need a simple way to measure the Solar Constant in a cold environemt (Norther Hemisphere, this time of year ;) ).While its easy to think of ways in which the Sun can heat up something for you...putting for example a bottle filled with water colored black due to ink dosen't seem like a good way of going about it. How am I supposed to figure out how much energy from the sun per square meter the bottle absorbes? How many joules the bottle warmed up is trivial, but where do I get the surface? Do I just take the surface of the bottle or just the surface directly exposed to sunlight or something entirely different?
Also any ideas on how to isolate whatever I'll be heating? Outside the ground is probably chilled already and will drain energy faster the warmer it will get... reducing the already laughable accuracy.
Sure I think just buying a solar cell and measuring the amps from the thing would be the easiest way, but I think they are quite affordable esp since I'm unlikley to use them for anythign else. This is quite a fun project for a kid but I'm wondering how close you could actually get with improvised gear? Any ideas on how to make measurement easier, more accurate?
Thanks for the responses. :)
Also any ideas on how to isolate whatever I'll be heating? Outside the ground is probably chilled already and will drain energy faster the warmer it will get... reducing the already laughable accuracy.
Sure I think just buying a solar cell and measuring the amps from the thing would be the easiest way, but I think they are quite affordable esp since I'm unlikley to use them for anythign else. This is quite a fun project for a kid but I'm wondering how close you could actually get with improvised gear? Any ideas on how to make measurement easier, more accurate?
Thanks for the responses. :)