Video tutorial: https://www.loom.com/share/02d9db4ff925493192381c15d9b5d371?sid=7d17e62b-2f7e-4c74-a215-e7623351b424

--

This tutorial should provide a clear and engaging introduction to solar-powered circuits, suitable for educational purposes or anyone interested in basic electronics and renewable energy.

Objectives:

• Understand the basics of solar power.
• Learn how to use a solar panel to power an LED light.

Materials Needed:

• Solar Panel (in Tinkercad, you can use a photovoltaic cell or solar cell component)
• LED (Light Emitting Diode)
• Wires (for connections)

Steps:

• Open Tinkercad and Create a New Circuit:
  • Go to Tinkercad.
  • Sign in or create an account if you don’t have one.
  • Click on 'Create new Circuit'.
• Add Components to the Workspace:
  • Search for a ‘Solar Panel’ or ‘Photovoltaic Cell’ in the components section and drag it onto the workspace.
  • Next, find an ‘LED’ and place it near the solar panel.
• Wiring the Components:
  • Connect the positive terminal of the solar panel to the anode (longer leg) of the LED.
  • Connect the negative terminal of the solar panel to the cathode (shorter leg) of the LED.
• Simulation:
  • Once everything is connected, click on the ‘Start Simulation’ button.
  • You should see the LED light up, indicating that the solar panel is providing enough power.
• Observation:
  • Experiment with different light intensities on the solar panel. You can do this by adjusting the properties of the solar panel in Tinkercad.
  • Observe how the brightness of the LED changes with varying light intensities.
• Discussion:
  • Discuss how solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy.
  • Explain how the LED lights up when the solar panel receives light and how it turns off in the absence of light.

Additional Activities (Optional):

• Measure Voltage: Add a voltmeter in the circuit to measure the output voltage of the solar panel.
• Series and Parallel: Create multiple circuits with LEDs in series and parallel to observe the differences in brightness and voltage requirements.

Conclusion:

This simple project demonstrates the basic principles of solar power and how it can be harnessed to drive an electronic component like an LED. It's an excellent introduction to renewable energy and basic electronics.

Safety Tips:

• Always ensure that connections are correct to prevent short circuits.
• Although Tinkercad is a virtual environment, it's good practice to follow safety protocols as you would in real-life scenarios.

Link to check your work: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/fq3OVZV82lT-solar-powered-light

This is an alternative to using a battery, which would look like this: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/hEjOqqG9fNO-my-electric-circut