Solar Energy at Night: Can Mirrors Move Sunlight to the Dark Side of the Earth?

Grade:

2

Teacher:

Amal Alfatesh

This project investigates whether mirrors can be used to move sunlight to the dark side of the Earth. A lamp was used to represent the Sun, a foam ball represented the Earth, and small mirrors represented satellites in space. The mirrors were positioned around the Earth model and adjusted at different angles to see if reflected light could reach areas that were dark. The experiment tested how changing the angle of the mirrors affected where the light landed. The results showed that mirrors can redirect light to dark areas and that small changes in mirror position can significantly change where the light goes. This model demonstrates how space-based mirrors or satellites might help send sunlight to places that do not receive it at certain times, such as at night.

Project presentation

Lab journal excerpts