Important Information On Solar Energy

Solar energy is so plentiful that it has the potential to replace oil, coal and other fossil fuels as the source of most of the world's energy, if it can be harnessed more efficiently. Solar energy produces electricity and heats buildings, homes and water, but can't compete with fossil fuels economically, according to The Columbia Encyclopedia. Harnessing solar energy more efficiently would benefit the world because it's environmentally friendly and can't be controlled by some people at another's expense.

Source

Solar energy's original source is the core of the sun, which is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures cause the core's hydrogen atoms to break apart and the atoms' core or nuclei to fuse into helium atoms in a process called thermonuclear fusion. During thermonuclear fusion, "Lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy," according to "A Primer on Solar Energy and Panels," an article in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

Destination

The solar energy from the sun's core takes millions of years to reach the sun's surface, but eight minutes to travel from there to Earth, which is 93 million miles away. About 30 percent of this energy is reflected back into space, about 22 percent is absorbed by the atmosphere and about 48 percent reaches the Earth's land and oceans, according to NASA. The solar energy that reaches the United States daily can supply its energy needs for 18 months, "A Primer on Solar Energy" reports.

Misconceptions

Solar energy's sunlight might appear white, but more than half of it is invisible, according to NASA. Solar energy consists of an electromagnetic spectrum that extends from the shortest to the longest wavelengths. The short, high-energy ultraviolet waves of light and long, low-energy infrared waves of light are invisible. The visible waves are violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red when you hold a prism to the sunlight.

History

Green plants need solar energy, and it supplies the energy for coal, oil and other fossil fuels, according to the Columbia Encyclopedia. People began trying to harness solar energy in the seventh century B.C., using magnifying glasses to transfer heat to wood to start fires, according to "A Primer on Solar Energy." During the 20th century, solar water heaters became common and the oil shortages of the 1970s inspired people to explore more advanced solar energy technology.

Current Uses

Recent inventions to harness solar energy include solar batteries, thermoelectric generators and special plates for roofs, according to the Columbia Encyclopedia. Solar batteries convert light falling on photosensitive substances into electricity. Thermoelectric generators produce electricity for large areas by using large numbers of solar batteries or pipes with oil that are set up to collect and trap solar energy. The special plates store solar energy in large containers. In addition, an anti-freeze mixture called glycol can collect solar energy and transfer it to a warm water tank, "A Primer on Solar Energy" reports.