2010

=SCORING RUBRIC=

__ Solar Energy and its effects on the planet __ __ What is it? __ Solar radiation is the light you can and cannot see emitted from the sun. It’s referred to as ultraviolet and infrared. The radiation that comes from the atmosphere is called terrestrial radiation and its infrared radiation so you cannot see it. The different amounts of radiation are calculated by microns or micrometere and is one millionth a meter. __ What are the effects of solar radiation? __ *Cancer And other damaging side effects can occur when not taking precautions.
 * freckles
 * sun poisoning

__ How to protect from solar radiation __ *sunscreen- will keep the sun’s harmful rays from damaging your skin and can prevent skin cancer.
 * glasses- a good pair of shades will keep your eyes protected and give you a little style during beach season.
 * green tea- Certain green teas have actually shown to help keep you protected from the suns harmful rays.

__How does it work?__ The electromagnetic radiation given off by the sun shows a large spectrum of wavelengths. It can be put into two major categories X-rays and gamma-rays. Luckily the majority of the radiation does not penetrate through the earths atmosphere.

__Explanation of picture__ Energy comes down to the earth in order to warm the planet and provide energy for all organisms. The majority is abosrbed by the land and oceans but a good portion is bounced back out to the atmosphere due to things like rising air and reflection. 

solar energy is a better choice over our traditional fossil fuels because it is clean, renewable and if we can find a better way to harness it, it will provide us with more energy than with fossil fuels. __Pros and Cons __  __Pros__  __Cons__  In conclusion solar energy is a very smart idea thanks to the vast amounts of energy given off by the sun, and although at the moment it may not be very cost effective it can save you thousands in the long run.
 * It’s a clean source of energy
 * It keeps the atmosphere healthy
 * Gives off enormous amounts of energy
 * It costs a lot more for the equipment to collect solar energy than it does for fossil fuels
 * It’s not reliable because if there’s no sun than theirs no power
 * Can’t be stored
 * Difficult to find a place that can absorb enough energy to make a difference in electricity bills
 * Takes a long time before you will see a return on your investment.

__Jesse Watson__