Lab 4 – Energy Sources and Alternative Energy

Experiment 1: The Effects of Coal Mining

|Table 1: pH of Water Samples |
|Water Sample |Initial pH |Final pH (after 48 hours) |
|Pyrite |6 |7 |
|Activated Carbon |6 |6 |
|Water |6 |6 |

POST LAB QUESTIONS

1. Develop hypotheses predicting the effect of pyrite and coal (activated carbon) on the acidity of water?

a. Pyrite hypothesis = If pyrite is in the water source, then it will make the specimen more acidic

b. Coal (activated carbon) hypothesis = If coal is in the water source, then it will make the specimen less acidic

2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.

a. Pyrite hypothesis accept/reject = Rejected, The hypothesis “If pyrite is in the water source, then it will make the specimen more acidic” was rejected due the the pH levels in the water increased after Pyrite was implemented after 48hrs making the pH level alkaline.

b. Coal (activated carbon) hypothesis accept/reject = Rejected“If coal is in the water source, then it will make the specimen less acidic” Rejected due to no change in pH levels in water after coal was implemented after 48hrs.

3. Based on your data, what effect do you predict coal mining has on the environment?

Answer = after the lab of the effects of mining has shown a few troublesome environmental challenges. First of which is the decrease in ground levels when coal is taken from the ground. Which could have an overall effect of the geography of the area when ground levels become lower. Second, Though the PH levels are in the Neutral zone, yet the acidic of the after effects of water and rocks that create a metal rich water and can have a negative reaction to the ground and surface water.

4. What can be done to prevent mine drainage from damaging the ecosystem? Utilize at least one scholarly resource to support your suggestions.

Answer = Mining does indeed effect the ecosystem in many fashions such has, wastes, pH levels increasing, use of water, and also affects living specimens that are in the area of mining. Acid mine drainage by indurate corporation often result in abandoned mines, and can also “net acidic” due to the concentration of metals from mining. (Johnson & Hallberg, 2005). Chemical treatments have been established yet not fully unitized by using abiotic remediation. Such remediation would “include lime, slaked lime, calcium, carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and magnesium oxide and hydroxide.” (Johnson & Hallberg, 2005). The problem is that this creates a reaction of metals and abiotic remediation turn into a thick sludge that can be difficult to remove from streams. Which is why water facilities should be created to maintained healthy Ph levels in water.

Experiment 2: Solar Energy

|Table 2: Solar Energy Experiment Results |
|Environmental Descriptor/Variable |Observations |
| |(Each should be compared against direct sunlight) |
|Weather of the Day |94° F, N4mph Wind, 34% humidity |
|Motor speed in direct sunlight |Speed: Very Fast |
|Motor speed at 45 degree angle |Speed: Very Fast |
|Motor speed under reflectors |Speed: Fast |
|Motor speed with 25% shaded |Speed: Fast |
|Motor speed with 50% shaded |Speed: Medium |
|Motor speed with 75% shaded |Speed: Stopped |
|Motor speed under red filtration |Speed: Medium |
|Motor speed under blue filtration |Speed: Fast |
|Motor speed under green filtration |Speed: Medium |
|Motor speed under yellow filtration |Speed: Medium |

Post-Lab Questions

1. Develop hypotheses predicting the efficiency of solar energy from direct sunlight against the four variables tested?

Direct vs indirect hypothesis = When Solar Panel is under Direct Sunlight, the motor will move at its highest level(Very Fast) and in Indirect the speed will lessen due to the strength of light.

Direct vs reflected hypothesis = The reflect light off of aluminum foil will create a faster speed then with direct sunlight.

Direct vs shaded hypothesis = The speed of the panel will decrease as the shade percentage will increase due to loss of light.

Direct vs filtered hypothesis = After folding the Green, Blue, Red and Yellow screens. The solar panel will differentiate speed between colors. Green will create a slow speed, Blue will create a slow speed, Red will create a medium speed, and Yellow with create a fast speed.

2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.

Direct vs indirect accept/reject = Accepted; The speed of the solar panel was at it’s highest speed under Direct light and decreased to a medium/Fast speed under indirect Light.

Direct vs reflected accept/reject = Rejected; The Aluminum foil did not have an effect of speed of the solar power when light was reflected from it.

Direct vs shaded accept/reject = Accepted; The speed of the panel decreased as the shade percentage will increase due to loss of light.

Direct vs filtered accept/reject = Rejected; After Folding the Green, Blue, Red and Yellow screens and placing them of the solar panel the different colors did differentiate from one another. Green stopped power completely, Blue stopped power completely, Red created speed to medium and yellow created the fasted speed of Yellow. Hence, the more the color reflects light away and not through the color then the less power the sun can create using solar power.

3. Does increased exposure to the sun’s light produce more current? Explain how you know this based on your data.

Answer = Increase exposure to the sun’s light does increase the productivity of current. After the lab, was proven that when the less light produced the less the productivity of the solar panel was. Leaving Solar panels as not a efficient source power but yet effective when under proper lighting.

4. How could you increase the electricity generated by a solar cell during the day, when the sun’s angle is constantly changing?

Answer = There could be multiple options yet when productivity is at its highest is when the solar panel is pointed directly with the sun. Though this is not the most cost effective way it is the best. That is to solar panels that work on a pivot system. Which have already been created yet the cost of a pivoting solar panels that moves as the sun moves is extremely expensive as a mass produce product. For a house it is defiantly worth it.

5. Based on your data, could adding filters to solar panels increase the solar energy produced? Explain how you know this.

Answer = my lab produced results that would explain that adding filters is ineffective and does not produce more power than a direct correlation. Filters that are lighter in color are able to allow light through it to produce light yet does not affect the effectiveness of the panels.

References

Any sources utilized should be listed here.

Johnson, D., & Hallberg, K. (2005). Acid mine drainage remediation options: A review. Science of The Total Environment, 3-14.