In math 10 recently we have been learning about trigonometry and how it can be implemented into real world situations, for a couple of weeks we were learning about how to do trigonometry and how it is used in the real world. We started oooking At were it could be used and then we were given a project, we had to build a model of a Solar Panel. In our model we had to show at which the sun would hit the solar panel, where our solar panel would be located, the angles and measurements of the solar panel, and all our working out of how we got our measurements. We also had to show of the location of our models. The location for my model is locate dat my house, the month that I chose for the timing of my solar panel is in June. I chose June as it is generally very sunny and the weather is very nice. When I wake up in the morning the sun comes up over the mountain across from my house and the sun generally shines on my house all day so the design for my solar panel would work very well for my house.
The angle of the sun in June in my area is around 23.5 degrees. My solar panel would sit on my roof. The angle that the sun would hit it is 66.5 degrees, if it hit at this angle it maximise the collection of sunlight on the solar panel. The upper angle would be 23.5, this angle would ensure that the solar panel is at the correct angle to the frame that it is attached to.
Next I had to find the scale for the solar panel in my model to the actual size of the solar panel that would sit on my house, my house is 12.446 metres long, scale is measured in standard measurement so converted to inches this is 490 inches long. The length of my model is 4 inches so if you divide that it would equal 122.5 so the scale would be 1/122.5.
For the creation of my model I used some thin wood, card board, adhesive a compass, measure and several other materials.
The creation of this project was interesting and challenging and it was cool designing your own solar panel, I also liked how we got to chose the exact location of our creation, this affects the angles and math that determine the final results. We also got to research more about the area where I live and how the sun affects it.
I learned a lot of skills during the process of this project, I can now see how trigonometry can be a useful subject and how it can be applied to a design to take advantage of its location. Some challenges that I experienced in the creation of this project were definitely gluing the wood together, I measured it out all correctly, but because the corners of the wood were only in contact with each other at their edges, the model could fall apart. I had to ensure that the adhesive was applied in such a way that I could achieve the required angles without altering the dimensions of the pieces of wood, which would result in the model not being to scale, while ensuring that the Model of the solar panel remained sturdy. Finding the angles using trigonometry was a challenge which, I feel, would become easier, if you worked in an environment that required you to use it on a daily basis.
I did overcome these challenges and completed the project, as this was the first math project of the year I found it a challenge but enjoyed it overall, and building the model and applying the math was interesting.