Jon Chase joined engineering students at Cambridge University hoping to win a race across Australia in their solar-powered car.
Today they are testing the 110 km/h car on an airfield.
They need as much power as possible, so the team uses solar cells normally used in space to power satellites.
Jon discovers how the cells use light to make electricity.But solar power isn鈥檛 all about electricity.
Plants are solar powered. And because we eat plants, this means most of us are solar-powered too.
The substance in plants that captures light energy is called chlorophyll.
Jon experiments with chlorophyll and finds out why green plants are green.
This clip is from the series Wave World.
Teacher Notes
Key Stage 3
When learning about energy transfers, or when learning about light, this could be used to illustrate that light energy can be transferred to electrical and chemical energy.
When teaching about photosynthesis, this can be used to consolidate understanding about what makes plants green and the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis.
Students learn how the green pigment in plants (chlorophyll) reflects certain colours of light from the visible spectrum and absorbs others.
Pupils could discuss the statement: 'humans are solar-powered' and construct explanations, using their knowledge about food chains and food webs, and the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.
Key Stage 4
This could be used when learning about the main renewable and non-renewable energy sources available for use on Earth.
Students could consider the energy efficiency of a solar cell and photosynthesis in green plants.
They could analyse data on the relative efficiency of eating plant or animal food sources, through exploring pyramids of energy to illustrate the energy transfers through ecosystems.
Curriculum Notes
This clips is relevant for teaching Physics at KS3 or KS4 and National 4/5.
This appears in AQA, OCR, EDEXCEL, WJEC GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland, SQA National 5 in Scotland and Cambridge IGCSE Physics.