Using solar energy for electrical purposes however, requires the use of a highly curved mirror called a parabolic trough to focus the sunlight on a pipe running down a central point above the curve of the mirror.
The mirror focuses the sunlight to strike the pipe, and it gets so hot that it can boil water into steam. That steam can then be used to turn a turbine to make electricity.
On the other hand, solar cells (aka photovoltaic) allows us to use electricity directly from the sun, in lights, businesses, and even daily appliances like a simple calculator.
Because solar, so good.
Another familiar renewable energy source is hydroelectric energy.
When it rains in hills and mountains, the water becomes streams and rivers that run down to the ocean. The moving or falling water can be used to do work because this moving water possesses kinetic energy that can be changed into electrical energy.
Dams are built on major rivers to harness the power generated by water, which is passed through a hydroelectric power plant or powerhouse. Power lines are connected to the generator that carry electricity to your home and mine. The water continues past the propeller through the tailrace into the river past the dam.
By the way, it is not a good idea to be playing in the water right below a dam when water is released! Because if you do...
Dam, son.
Last but certainly not the least of renewable energy resources is that of wind energy.
Farmers have been using wind energy for many years to pump water from wells using windmills and wind is also used to turn large grinding stones to grind wheat or corn, just like a water wheel is turned by water power.
Blowing wind spins the blades on a wind turbine – just like a large toy pinwheel.
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